Alleging that Bangladesh’s garments factories still lack in addressing major issues towards providing safety to women, who attributes to nearly 78 per cent of the country’s total 3.6 million readymade garments workforce, a group of rights activists have advocated for policy-level attention to the issue.
Speaking at a discussion titled ‘Unsafe Labour Conditions: Dialogue With Women Rights Organisations’, organised by Karmojibi Nari (Working Women) at Jatiya Press Club, Dhaka, on April 26, 2018, they said women at Bangladesh’s factories have to battle unsafe working conditions and gender discrimination every day.
Umme Salma, Vice President of Karmojibi Nari, said, “A safe workplace for the women workers will impact the readymade garments industry and productivity of the women workers positively.” This will in turn help the sector’s overall productivity. Markedly, Karmojibi Nari is a pressure group that fights for rights and dignity of women in Bangladesh.
A female garment worker told Apparel Resources (on the condition of anonymity) that where she works, at a garments factory in Hemayetpur, Savar, women are paid lower in comparison to men. Also, she said, women are harshly treated over the slightest of unprofessional conduct across all factories. “This happens everywhere every day. Women are easy to be rebuked,” she maintained.
The activists have stressed that it is imperative now that the lawmakers take the issue seriously and table it in the parliament; and discuss on implementing the UN’s recommendation of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in the country’s RMG sector.
“Bangladesh’s women are taking the country forward. The women workers of our factories face wage discrimination. They face harassment every day on the way to work,” said Khushi Kabir, Coordinator of Non-government organisation Nijera Kori, at the programme.
Speakers alleged that Bangladesh’s women workers face discrimination in wages, sexual harassment at work and in society, are subjected to negligence in regard to sexual health, reproductive health and during securing the approval of maternity leave at workplace.
Responding to which, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament and also the chief guest at the programme, said the Government has a strong stand against the barriers to women empowerment and development. She acknowledged that it is high time the matter is discussed at the parliament.
Among others who spoke at the programme were Rokeya Kabir, Executive Director for Steps Towards Development, Nasimun Ara Huq Minu, President of Women Journalists’ Centre, Rokeya Rafique, Executive Director and Sanjida Sultana, Director, Karmojibi Nari.