Speakers highlight the need for safe, discrimination-free workplaces for women in RMG sector

The RMG sector, which accounts for 83% of Bangladesh‍‍`s export revenue, employs 2.59 million workers, 57% of whom are women. 

Despite their significant contribution to the economy, female workers often face challenges such as workplace sexual harassment, unsafe commutes, wage discrimination, and limited career growth.

Speakers at the event emphasized the need for safe, discrimination-free workplaces, robust systems to address complaints, and improved facilities such as childcare and transportation for women workers. 

Ensuring maternity leave with wages, as mandated by labor laws, was also highlighted as a critical requirement.

These remarks were made at an event titled ‍‍`Learning Together: A Gender Justice Journey,‍‍` held at BRAC INN in Dhaka on Sunday. 

The event focused on addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and workplace inequalities faced by women in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector. 

It was organized by the Shojag Coalition in partnership with the European Union, under the project "Promoting Gender Justice for Women Workers in the Ready-Made Garments Sector."

The event gathered a wide range of stakeholders, including employers, buyers, trade union representatives, NGO and INGO officials, UN representatives, workers‍‍` rights-focused Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and delegates from BGMEA and BKMEA.

Program Manager of Ethical Trading Limited, Taposh Barua, noted, “In the RMG sector, grievances are often addressed verbally, and factories hesitate to document complaints fearing negative audit outcomes.”

Deputy Manager of ActionAid, Mohammad Maruf Hosain highlighted, “Women hold very few mid-level management positions in the RMG industry. Most are employed as sewing machine operators, and many are dismissed by the age of 35.”

Anindita Ghosh, Senior Program Officer at Solidarity Center, highlighted the decline in women workers due to inadequate training in automation and childcare support.

While Sunzida Sultana, Executive Director of Kormojibi Nari, emphasized advancements such as the inclusion of the 2009 High Court Verdict on workplace harassment in the labor law and the ILO‍‍`s integration of GBV into Occupational Safety and Health guidelines.

Program Manager for Governance and Human Rights at the European Union, Laila Jasmin Banu, affirmed, “The EU remains committed to promoting gender justice in Bangladesh. Valuable lessons from ongoing projects will inform future initiatives.”

Nuzhat Jabin, Country Director, Christian Aid Bangladesh, stressed the importance of a combined approach, stating, “Addressing GBV requires interventions at both factory and community levels. Gender-diverse communities also face unique challenges that must be addressed.”

The event underscored the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure a safer, more equitable workplace for women in Bangladesh’s RMG sector, paving the way for sustained progress in gender justice.