Violation of employment contract-related provisions is still evident in the country’s readymade garment (RMG) sector, according to a new research.About 36 per cent of the surveyed garment workers responded that they didn’t have appointment letter while 30 per cent did not get pay-slip, according to the findings of the research conducted by Karmojibi Nari.Some 85 per cent of the surveyed workers, however, said they have identity cards and attendance cards, said the report titled ‘Monitoring Work and Working Conditions of Women Employed in Readymade Garment Industries of Bangladesh’.Karmojibi Nari conducted the survey on a total of 3,014 garment workers from 327 factories since September 2018 to March 2019.Rajshahi University professor Zakir Hossain presented the research findings at a view exchange meeting held at the National Press Club in the city on Monday.Karmojibi Nari president Dr Pratima Pal Mojumdar presided over the meeting while Shirin Akhter member of the parliament was present as the chief guest.Some 24 per cent of the surveyed workers earn a maximum of Tk 8,000 per month while the income of 55 per cent women ranged between Tk 8,001 to 12,000, it found.Some 14 per cent workers said their wage and overtime are regularly kept due while over half of them do not know overtime calculation, it showed. Nearly half of the workers said they do not get due (and timely) festival bonus.The survey found that 95 per cent of the workers prefer to do overtime while 48 per cent said, overtime is mandatory.It also revealed that 99 per cent workers get weekly holiday though 95.4 per cent said they do not get rest except the lunch break.Nearly one in every four (72 per cent) women workers reported verbal harassment, nearly one-third (62 per cent) women mentioned about psychological harassment.It found participation committee is most frequent, followed by occupational safety and health (OSH) committee while the trade union is least available.The researcher’s recommendations included strengthening labour regulation by making it more women-friendly, ensuring enforcement of law, holding employers responsible for work and workplace, formation of anti-harassment committee and increasing rights awareness among workers.
