Women-led orgs urge govt to ensure protection, dignity for women workers

On the occasion of International Labour Day yesterday (1 May), Nari Unnayan Shakti (NUS) organised a meeting for combating sexual harassment and wage discrimination in workplace. 

A joint discussion, along with six other women-led organisations, has presented 20 specific demands to two key ministries of the government of Bangladesh, calling for urgent actions to protect and uphold the rights of women workers, reads a press release.

The participating organisations — NUS, Young Women for ez Development Rights and Climate (YWDRC), Bangladeshi Ovhibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA), Forum for Culture and Human Development (FCHD), AVAS, and Love Thy Neighbour (LTN) — emphasised that both domestic and migrant women workers continue to face sexual harassment, insecurity, and labor discrimination on a daily basis. 

They stated that this is not only a social issue but also a serious human rights and state-level crisis.

The 10 demands to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment are:

1. Introduce mandatory "Safety and Rights Training" for women workers before migration.

2. Establish 24/7 "Women Support Desks" with hotlines at all Bangladesh embassies abroad.

3. Ensure rehabilitation, psychological support, and legal assistance for women workers returning after sexual abuse.

4. Formulate new policies for sending women workers to high-risk countries.

5. Guarantee wage and dignity equality between male and female migrant workers.

6. Launch a digital app to report violence and harassment confidentially.

7. Strictly monitor and penalize fraudulent recruiting agencies.

8. Establish a separate welfare fund for women migrant workers facing sexual violence.

9. Ensure women's right to keep their passports, IDs, and communication devices with them.

10. Commit fully to ILO Convention 190 and take effective action against sexual harassment.

The 10 demands to the Ministry of Labour and Employment are:

1. Make it mandatory to formulate "Self-Guidelines" and establish "Complaint Committees" in every workplace.

2. Enforce compulsory training as per Labour Act 2006 and its 2018 amendment.

3. Ensure gender equality in wages, promotions, and leave policies.

4. Introduce CCTV surveillance, female security personnel, and workplace hotlines.

5. Guarantee anonymous and speedy investigation and justice for sexual harassment complaints.

6. Ensure safe resting rooms, hygienic toilets, and maternity benefits for women workers.

7. Appoint welfare officers in garments and factories.

8. Establish daycare centers where there are 50 or more female employees.

9. Create a "Women Worker Protection and Response Cell" under the Ministry and ensure regular monitoring.

10. Take punitive measures against violators and publicly disclose the actions taken.

The organisations collectively stated that although women's contribution to national economic development is recognised, they continue to face violence and discrimination in real workplace environments. Hence, visible and immediate state action is urgently needed.