Concerted effort is needed to advance women leadership in the RMG Sector

Concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including the government, factory owners, buyers, development partners, UN agencies, and civil society organisations, are needed to ensure more gender equity  in the garment industry, said experts  at an event in Chattogram.

The event under the title "Gender Equality and Returns: Advancing Women Leadership, Skills Development and Productivity in the Supply Chain" was held at Chattogram Boat Club yesterday.

Stakeholders from the RMG industry were brought together at the event to showcase the Gender Equality and Returns (GEAR) initiative in promoting gender equality and continued advancement of women's leadership and skills in the RMG sector.

GEAR, a collaborative initiative by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the IFC Better Work programme, has trained 800 female workers since 2016, of which 528 have been promoted to supervisory roles. In partnership with the Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE), the event marked the joint commitment to women's empowerment in the RMG sector.

While acknowledging GEAR's successes, the speakers at the event emphasised the necessity for collaborative action from the government, factory owners, buyers, development partners, UN agencies, and civil society organisations. These collaborative efforts are essential to creating a more equitable garment industry, they said.

Highlighting the significance of gender equality Tuomo Poutiainen, country director of the ILO in Bangladesh, said, "The progress that we see in Bangladesh's RMG sector is impressive. It demonstrates how gender equality is a moral imperative and an effective strategy for economic growth." 

The ILO looks forward to continuing this important work through the expansion of GEAR to foster a more inclusive workforce and drive tangible improvements in productivity and competitiveness, he said.

Park Young Sik, Korean ambassador in Dhaka, commended the progress. "Korea is proud to support Bangladesh in these vital Initiatives. The strides made here in gender equality inspire many," he noted.

Leena Khan, labour attaché, US Embassy Dhaka, Bangladesh, said, "As graduates of the GEAR program, you will contribute to better working conditions, ensuring worker voices are heard, and improving employment opportunities for women. We recognize the program's work with governments, employers, workers, trade unions, and global brands to improve worker rights in the garment industry and to make the sector more competitive"