Global Evidence suggests that a healthier diet boosts the immune system, and it raises the productivity, morale and energy of the employees. It’s one winning strategy that brings in multiple benefits. This an area where there is still an opportunity for RMG industries to raise productivity and efficiency. It was found in a survey that 77% of the RMG workers suffer from anaemia due to their poor dietary habits. Anaemia causes loses in productivity of the workers which leads direct loses in line-level performance, sickness and absenteeism for the RMG industry workers. Particularly, in this COVID-19 situation, the RMG workers are more vulnerable because of their weak immune system that is again driven by a less than optimal dietary choices.
GAIN is an alliance driven by the vision of a world without malnutrition. Created in 2002 at a Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Children, GAIN is Swiss-based Foundation and an INGO working in Bangladesh for the past 10 years in partnership with different ministries, development partners, private sectors, civil society organisations and academia. Its purpose is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving the consumption of nutritious and safe food for all people, especially those most vulnerable to malnutrition. Since 2014, GAIN has been active in generating evidence and contributing to Policy Advocacy with partners for better approaches to the workforce nutrition program. The Strengthening Workers Access to Pertinent Nutrition Opportunities (SWAPNO) is a scalable and replicable factory owned model that is now being implemented in 20 RMG factories. In addition to the Government of Bangladesh, GAIN has been working alongside partners such as UNICEF, Nutrition International (NI), WFP, WHO, CARE, SNV, Hellen Keller International (HKI), icddrb, other development and private sector partners to implement nutrition interventions in RMG industries.
The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network (SBN) is one of the networks of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement. SBN is co-convened by GAIN and World Food Programme (WFP). SBN mobilizes businesses to act, invest, and innovate through responsible and sustainable actions to achieve nutrition outcomes. SBN has organised a webinar on 15th September 2020 to discuss the nutritional challenges that the RMG workers are facing and the actions that can be taken in collaboration with Government of Bangladesh and all relevant actors. Mr. K.M. Abdus Salam, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MOLE) has graced the webinar as the Chief Guest. The webinar was chaired by Dr. S M Mustafizur Rahman, the Line Director of the National Nutrition Services (NNS)/Institute of Public
Health Nutrition (IPHN), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW). The Secretary of MoLE has emphasised on the importance of RMG industry in Bangladesh and the Government of Bangladesh’s commitments for sustainability and growth of RMG Sector. As part of the commitments, the Government Bangladesh is committed to ensure the health and wellbeing of the RMG workers where nutrition play a vital role. The Secretary of MoLE noted that collective action of RMG factory owners, buyers, regulatory authorities and development partners are required to ensure that the workers gets access to nutritious and safe food, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The Secretary of MoLE has applauded the RMG workers for their hard work and commitments in taking the Country’s economy forward.
Mr. Hanifur Rahman Lotus joined the webinar as the Chair of the Health Standing Committee of BGMEA. Mr. Lotus has provided concise summary of the food systems that is operating around the RMG industries linking with the health and wellbeing of the workers. He also highlighted the importance of Mothers at Work including breastfeeding and childcare services. Particularly, he highlighted the adverse food safety situation and shown his commitment to support all initiatives linking with health and wellbeing of the workers. He emphasised that it is important to understand the busy lifestyle of the RMG workers and their poor choice of diet driven by lack of affordability after meeting expenses of their household.
Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Joint Inspector General of the Department of Inspection of Factories & Establishment (DIFE), MOLE highlighted about the critical role of the DIFE inspector to ensure the health and safety of the RMG workers as well as canteen and WASH facilities. The DIFE inspectors are being trained in food safety, hygiene in food preparation and nutrition with support from GAIN. The DIFE inspector will build the capacity of the factory management in integrating nutrition-sensitive knowledge and facilities for workers. Sirajul Islam Rony, President, Bangladesh National Garments Workers Employees League (BNGWEL) echoed and shared about the importance of WASH practices and other nutrition-sensitive practices and emphasised that the workers, owners and buyers should all be up to date with then-current laws and guideline. Mr. Syful Alam Mallick, Compliance Manager-South Asia, Auchan International highlighted that the workforce nutrition programmes can be expanded through different Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) opportunities led by factories, buyers, foundations and other stakeholders. Dr. Sabiha Sultana, Senior Technical Specialist, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) highlighted coordinated effort of Government lead by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare )MOHFW) and Ministry of Labour and Employment (MOLE) to generate nutritional guideline for RMG industry with support GAIN. Dr. Sabiha also highlighted SBN’s effort to influence the SMEs around the RMG industries and developing demonstrable business models to ensure safe and nutritious food. The food solutions that being developed are convenient, affordable and caters to the taste and preference of the workers.
Dr. S M Mustafizur Rahman in his closing remark highlighted about the ground-breaking approach of the Second National Plan of Action on Nutrition (NPAN2) to bring together Government, UN, INGOs, academia and private sector under a comprehensive plan to ensure safe and nutritious food for population including RMG workers. He also highlighted that maternal nutrition and child nutrition should receive extensive support to ensure nutrition during the first 1000 days. He urged the Garment owners to facilitate healthier of diet for RMG workers and substitute widely available unhealthy food with vegetables and fruits for the factory workers.
The webinar was moderated by Mr Mehdi Mahbub, President of Bangladesh RMG Centre.
