Female workers’ participation in workplaces in the country’s different sectors has declined for want of necessary support from the stakeholders, observed women rights activists. And, lack of necessary training and women’s inability to use advanced technologies at workplaces are also causes of it, they viewed. They came up with the views at an opinion-sharing meeting of women workers of the country’s different sectors, titled ‘Equal wage and security for women workers’. Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) organised the event in the city on Friday. Jona Goswami, director (Programme advocacy and lobby) read out a statement presenting the decline in women’s participation in workplaces and describing the reasons behind. “At present 65 per cent female workers are employed in the country’s garment sector while it was 85 per cent years before,” read the statement. “Improper healthcare system, unhygienic toilets, job insecurity, not getting maternity leave, wage disparity, insufficient day-care facility and sexual harassment are among the causes for the decline in female workers’ participation in workplaces in Bangladesh,” she added. She suggested arranging separate transportation for women workers alongside effectively dealing with the above-mentioned inconveniences and shortcomings. She also emphasised full implementation of the Labour Act (Amendment) 2013 and formulation of a policy on female workers’ workplaces to address these issues. The women rights activists also noted that if women’s participation in workplaces increases, the country’s economy would see further growth. BMP secretary Maleka Banu said, “Women at all workplaces face harassment in similar ways and we all have to deal with these to establish their rights in all sectors.” “Women are playing active role in alleviating poverty and in the journey of economic development,” she added. Shamsunnahar Bhuiyan, MP, addressing the event as special guest said women still face violence in workplaces. Their unity is hardly seen in the garment sector. She called upon them to raise movement forging unity to establish all their rights at workplaces. Women workers from different sectors participated in the programme.
