Employers urged to invest for workers’ nutrition to enhance output  | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
July 05, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, JULY 05, 2025
Employers urged to invest for workers’ nutrition to enhance output 

Economy

TBS Report
25 September, 2020, 10:30 pm
Last modified: 26 September, 2020, 11:30 am

Related News

  • 'Collective Action Key to Advancing Women's Economic Empowerment in Nutrition, Technology, and Inclusive Market Systems': Experts
  • Policy reforms and political voice key to sustainable growth for MSMEs: Experts
  • BAT Bangladesh to invest Tk297cr to expand production capacity
  • Govt considers extending special fund, easing rules to boost mutual fund investment
  • EU to invest €1b in Bangladesh, plans to double

Employers urged to invest for workers’ nutrition to enhance output 

The study shows that adequate nourishment can increase national productivity levels by 20%

TBS Report
25 September, 2020, 10:30 pm
Last modified: 26 September, 2020, 11:30 am
File photo of RMG workers. Picture: Mumit M/TBS
File photo of RMG workers. Picture: Mumit M/TBS

Around 43% of female workers in the readymade garment sector suffer from malnutrition, says a study.

Of them, 77% workers are suffering from anaemia while 19% have appeared with mild anaemia – 8% severe and 50% moderate.

The rest of the workers feel hungry after consuming a meal, which is likely to affect their energy levels, according to the study findings presented at a conference in Dhaka on Thursday that stressed workforce nutrition in Bangladesh.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Moniruzzaman Bipul, portfolio lead (targeted dietary improvement program), the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), presented the study findings on Investment for Workforce Nutrition in the RMG Sector at the conference titled "Inclusive investment for tackling poverty."

Photo: Mumit M
Photo: Mumit M

It was jointly organised by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in Bangladesh and the Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DBCCI).

The study shows that adequate nourishment can increase national productivity levels by 20%.

It says about 30% workers lost physical work capacity for iron deficiency which alone counts around $500 million loss in productivity in South Asia.

Besides, micronutrient deficiencies force to cut around 3% loss in GDP in developing countries.

Further, 45% of total female workers in the RMG sector consume an inadequate diversity diet and have inadequate knowledge on balanced diet and benefits of vitamins and minerals. They spend more on starchy and unsafe food.

Workers help themselves with food at Snowtex Sportswear Ltd at Dhamrai at the outskirt of the capital. The owner of the apparel factory, SM Khaled, believes workers' good health is deeply related to steady production. So he provides around 11,000 workers of his factory with the midday meal free of cost to ensure they remain healthy and do not have to worry about managing their dinner. Photo: Mumit M
Workers help themselves with food at Snowtex Sportswear Ltd at Dhamrai at the outskirt of the capital. The owner of the apparel factory, SM Khaled, believes workers' good health is deeply related to steady production. So he provides around 11,000 workers of his factory with the midday meal free of cost to ensure they remain healthy and do not have to worry about managing their dinner. Photo: Mumit M

The study calls upon employers to invest for workers' nutrition to help workers reduce micronutrient deficiencies and chronic diseases and thus increase productivity.

Jamal Uddin, inclusive business adviser to SNV, said there are around 4 million apparel workers in Bangladesh, of them, 61% are women. They are poor, less educated and sometimes face unhealthy working conditions.

They have long working hours but less time for personal care, he said while presenting a keynote paper on health financing scheme in the RMG sector.

Besides, they are mainly from disadvantaged areas and have a lack of access to health products and services, especially sexual and reproductive health, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Harry Verweij, said "'Expand, brand, stand' is a slogan that I use for the RMG sector in Bangladesh."

Photo: Mumit M
Photo: Mumit M

"I meant by 'brand' is that Bangladesh should do more to show the world what is happening here – its progress and opportunities – and show them their willingness to do business in an inclusive and sustainable way."

"And by 'stand' I mean that Bangladesh should stand for its people, its values and its products while 'expand' is that Bangladesh should innovate and grow sustainability," he added.  

Md Hanifur Rahman Lotus, chairman of the BGMEA Standing Committee on Health Centres, said, "We are investing for the workers' betterment and have raised funds for their protection."

Dr Allert Van Den Ham, country director (Laos and Myanmar), SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, said, "SNV has helped numerous private companies across the world to design inclusive business solutions…inclusive investment can tackle poverty and the private sector could be the prime contributor." 

 Dr Md Akramul Islam, director, Communicable Diseases and WASH Programme, Brac, mentioned, in his keynote paper, that the status of safely managed sanitation in Bangladesh is not proper.

Secretary to the Ministry of Labor and Employment KM Abdus Salam said, "For the betterment of the workers, we amended the labour law to make it befitting," he said adding, "We have ensured a welfare fund and insurance for workers, including those in the informal sector.

Bangladesh / Top News

employers / investment / workers / Nutrition / output

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Saleudh Zaman
    Textile mill owners demand withdrawal of new taxes by Monday
  • Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed talked to reporters in Brahmanbaria on 5 July 2025. Photo: Collected
    Raising savings certificate profits will hurt banks, says finance adviser
  • File photo of former chief election commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda/Collected
    Former CEC ATM Shamsul Huda passes away

MOST VIEWED

  • A meeting of the Advisory Council Committee chaired by the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus held on 3 July 2025. Photo: PID
    Govt Service Ordinance: Compulsory retirement to replace dismissal for misconduct in govt job 
  • Graphics: TBS
    Foreign currency in offshore banking units now eligible as collateral for taka loans
  • New Mooring Container Terminal. Photo: TBS
    Chittagong Dry Dock to take over New Mooring terminal operations on 7 July
  • Ships and shipping containers are pictured at the port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California, US, 30 January 2019. Photo: REUTERS
    Bangladesh expects US tariff relief after Trump announces cuts to Vietnam
  • Miners are seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China. Photo: Reuters
    How China is playing the rare earths trump card — and why Ukraine couldn’t
  • Illustration: TBS
    Grameen Jibon: A business born from soil, memory, and the scent of home

Related News

  • 'Collective Action Key to Advancing Women's Economic Empowerment in Nutrition, Technology, and Inclusive Market Systems': Experts
  • Policy reforms and political voice key to sustainable growth for MSMEs: Experts
  • BAT Bangladesh to invest Tk297cr to expand production capacity
  • Govt considers extending special fund, easing rules to boost mutual fund investment
  • EU to invest €1b in Bangladesh, plans to double

Features

Students of different institutions protest demanding the reinstatement of the 2018 circular cancelling quotas in recruitment in government jobs. Photo: Mehedi Hasan

5 July 2024: Students announce class boycott amid growing protests

15h | Panorama
Contrary to long-held assumptions, Gen Z isn’t politically clueless — they understand both local and global politics well. Photo: TBS

A misreading of Gen Z’s ‘political disconnect’ set the stage for Hasina’s ouster

19h | Panorama
Graphics: TBS

How courier failures are undermining Bangladesh’s online perishables trade

19h | Panorama
The July Uprising saw people from all walks of life find themselves redrawing their relationship with politics. Photo: Mehedi Hasan

Red July: The political awakening of our urban middle class

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Guadalupe River rises at least 26 feet in 45 minutes

Guadalupe River rises at least 26 feet in 45 minutes

56m | TBS World
Former CEC ATM Shamsul Huda passes away

Former CEC ATM Shamsul Huda passes away

1h | TBS Today
What's in Trump's much-discussed 'Big Beautiful Bill'?

What's in Trump's much-discussed 'Big Beautiful Bill'?

2h | Others
India proposes retaliatory tariffs against US at WTO

India proposes retaliatory tariffs against US at WTO

3h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net