A Bangladeshi state minister underscored on the need to have a women friendly work environment in the country’s garment sector. Meher Afroz Chumki, state minister for women and children affairs underlined the necessity to have a women friendly work environment since they do not get adequate facilities and support. The Bangladeshi garment sector is the biggest export generating industry for the country and employs around 4 million workers, of which between 75 and 80 per cent are accounted for by women. At a function to launch a project titled ‘Promoting SRHR through Inclusive Business among Female RMG Workers’, Chumki said, “Women are treated as low-paid workers although they are the lifeline of the sector.” “Although, the government is taking various steps to minimise the challenges, women continue to face massive challenges in their jobs,” the minister noted. According to Chumki, as of date, around 44 day care centres have been set up and the construction of a hostel for women garment workers is ongoing. “However, she called these programs inadequate, since the sector accounts for a large women workforce and stressed on the need to provide an additional number of facilities,” an agency report stated. The minister further added that many women workers did not have sufficient knowledge of sexual health problems, and if this was offered, could lead to a safer mother and child’s health.
