Bangladesh

WSM works with two partners in Bangladesh:

• Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK) or "movement for health, for and with the poor" is an NGO founded by progressive doctors in 1972. GK brings healthcare to over 1 million people, mostly poor and rural people, by setting up of 43 health centers and seven hospitals. GK also trains and employs local people as health workers, of which there are now over 2,200. GK’s work achieved drastic reductions in infant mortality. GK also organizes income generating activities to help people  with an income.
  GK introduced health insurance in Bangladesh and is actively involved in policy making.

• National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) which strives for better working conditions in the textile industry. NGWF strives for fair wages, better and safer working conditions in the garment sector and emphasizes equal rights for men and women. It is the largest national trade union of garment workers in Bangladesh and currently has about 60,000 members in over 1,200 factory committees. NGWF is active through 10 branch offices in 8 regions. Through the involvement of NGWF in the Clean Clothes Campaign, WSM also sensitizes consumers and brands manufacturing in Bangladesh to enforce safe working conditions and living wages.

As organisations, they cover four areas of social protection:

1. Health care: GK aims to have an additional 100.000 people adhere to the health insurance system they offer, raise awareness on hygiene and other health related issues of over half a million people, train almost 2.000 people as traditional birth attendees, paramedics and others, offer health counselling to over 100.000 people and lobby regarding better access to health care towards politicians.
2. The promotion of  labour standards, with  awareness raising of  almost half a million people regarding organizing of garment workers and providing training to 800 garment workers and leaders;
3. Vocational skills: by training 626 workers in various professional skills, and promoting women empowerment in jobs traditionally reserved by men, like drivers.
4. Social security: by raising awareness of 800.000 people and providing training to over 200 people

They work together to promote systems of health insurance and a decent living income for garment workers. The Bangladesh Social Protection Advocacy Network focuses through training, research and advocacy on three aspects:

• invest in training workers regarding Occupational Health and Safety, so they can play their role in the OHS committees on plant level;
• promote health insurance for garment workers
• advocacy to increase the minimum wage and network with other garment federations to present joint demands.

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