Sexual harassment recorded on cellphone of garment workers - Bangladesh, 2022

TESTIMONIES

Md. Amzad, 24 years old from Shariatpur, joined Ratul Fabrics Ltd on February 2019 with a basic salary of BDT 6.100 or 50€. While working there, the workers decided to organize and form a labor union so they filled the required forms to register the union in October 2021. But while the request was being processed by the authorities, the factory authorities stopped the organizers from entering and fired them, including Amzad. Amzad submitted a grievance letter to the management which stayed without response. He then turned to NGWF which offered him legal assistance and eventually, Md. Amzad got BDT 51.794 compensation and was reinstated.

A garment worker (name not used to remain anonymous) at a factory called Shareem Group Textiles in Ashulia, near Dhaka. Though she is married, she was pressured into sex with one of the supervisors. He used his cellphone to record images and shared it with two other supervisors who threatened to share this on social media and with her husband if she didn’t also satisfy them. 

She sought NGWF support and with their help, filed a case against the supervisor at the local police station.

While initially, the police was not helpful and she was even fired from her job, eventually the continued pressure from the union organizer led the management to fire the first supervisor and reprimanding the two other. However, she still remains without a job…

Some results by intervention strategy...

Vocational training: 117 people, of which 80% women and  all under 35 years received vocational skill training through GK, on computer skills, women driving and to work as a paramedic.

Social economy: especially focusing on elderly, 80 seniors were supported through social economy initiative to ensure betterment of health, of which 51 were elderly women.

Labour rights: 182.844 people, of which 55% women and 80% younger than 35 years, were involved in the services by the partners to improve their working conditions. 

• 176.757 workers increased their awareness on labour standards and especially the minimum wages for the garment sector
• 4.589 workers per year were organised to increase membership
• 185 union members received basic training on labour rights
• 133 union leaders received advanced training on collective bargaining 
• 850 garment sector union members received legal assistance

Health and social protection law

• Almost 150.000 members, of which 2/3 are women increased their awareness about health and hygiene, family planning, health related messages, gender policy and rights.
• 30.300 garment workers and vulnerable people, of which over half were women, were organised to join the health insurance of GK.
• 40 women received basic training as a traditional birth attendee, and 60 members received training to work as a paramedic. 80 paramedics of which 60 are women, are trained to promote health insurance to the general public.
• Nearly 25.000 people received medical advice through specialised health camps, preventive care programs and were supplied with medicines, of which 18.830 are women. 7.745 garment workers, of which 5.865 women, received medical advice aid and support through health camps and health screenings.

Social security

• 170.000 workers, of which 94.000 are women and 134.300 under 35 years are informed about social security through media, poster and leaflets.
• 56 workers, of which 35 women and 50 under 35 years, were part of two basic trainings on social security.