Increasing participation of women folk in local trade bodies demanded
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
FE Report
Women workers' rights are not being established in the country as there are insufficient female workers' leaders in the mainstream labour bodies, representatives of various labour groups said.
Leaders of six workers' groups mostly representing females demanded for increasing participation of the women folk in the local trade bodies as well as in the central level.
They made the plea after launching a platform under the banner of Women Workers' Movement (WWM) Monday at Dhaka Reports' Unity (DRU).
The six organisations which created the platform includes Jatiyo Nari Sramik Jote, Bangladesh Poshak Shilpo Sramik Federation, Bangladesh Garments Sramik Jote, Sommilito Garments' Sramik Federation, Awaj Foundation and Karmajibi Nari.
"The WWM is a platform of all women workers who want to raise voices for realising their rights," president of Jatiyo Nari Sramik Jote Umme Hasan Jhalmal said at the launching programme.
The female union leader termed the newly-formed unit as a movement, saying that it is a registered organisation.
"Six labour bodies have so far been included in the initiative. We're expecting more trade bodies to join in future considering its importance," she said.
President of Sommilito Garments' Sramik Federation Nazma Akter said that half of the country's population is women and their number in both formal and informal sectors has been increasing significantly for the last two decades. "They (women workers) can't be neglected at all," she said.
She said that the labours' bodies have been working for their interest but many women-related issues are not being addressed in a proper way in male dominated organisations.
The WWM leaders demanded facilities like transport, separate toilets, dormitories and food rationing system to ensure a healthy and decent occupational environment in each of the workplaces.
"One-third seats should be allocated for female workers in every transport for safe and secured journey," Nazma Akter said, and sought one third women representatives in different trade unions and workers organizations.
They also urged the authorities to ensure their maternity leave and for setting up child day care centres in their working places, so that women workers can pay full attention to their jobs.
They also emphasised implementing women workers' rights in a way that has been addressed in the Small Industry Development Organization (SIDO) policy, the International Labour Organization (ILO) policy and Labour Law 2006.
Tahmina Rahman, general secretary of Bangladesh Poshak Shilpo Sramik Federation, Rokeya Sultana Anju, president of Bangladesh Garment Sramik Jote, Mamataz Begum, president of Awaj Foundation and Syeda Selina Shely of Karmajibi Nari among others, were present in the programme.
Women workers' rights are not being established in the country as there are insufficient female workers' leaders in the mainstream labour bodies, representatives of various labour groups said.
Leaders of six workers' groups mostly representing females demanded for increasing participation of the women folk in the local trade bodies as well as in the central level.
They made the plea after launching a platform under the banner of Women Workers' Movement (WWM) Monday at Dhaka Reports' Unity (DRU).
The six organisations which created the platform includes Jatiyo Nari Sramik Jote, Bangladesh Poshak Shilpo Sramik Federation, Bangladesh Garments Sramik Jote, Sommilito Garments' Sramik Federation, Awaj Foundation and Karmajibi Nari.
"The WWM is a platform of all women workers who want to raise voices for realising their rights," president of Jatiyo Nari Sramik Jote Umme Hasan Jhalmal said at the launching programme.
The female union leader termed the newly-formed unit as a movement, saying that it is a registered organisation.
"Six labour bodies have so far been included in the initiative. We're expecting more trade bodies to join in future considering its importance," she said.
President of Sommilito Garments' Sramik Federation Nazma Akter said that half of the country's population is women and their number in both formal and informal sectors has been increasing significantly for the last two decades. "They (women workers) can't be neglected at all," she said.
She said that the labours' bodies have been working for their interest but many women-related issues are not being addressed in a proper way in male dominated organisations.
The WWM leaders demanded facilities like transport, separate toilets, dormitories and food rationing system to ensure a healthy and decent occupational environment in each of the workplaces.
"One-third seats should be allocated for female workers in every transport for safe and secured journey," Nazma Akter said, and sought one third women representatives in different trade unions and workers organizations.
They also urged the authorities to ensure their maternity leave and for setting up child day care centres in their working places, so that women workers can pay full attention to their jobs.
They also emphasised implementing women workers' rights in a way that has been addressed in the Small Industry Development Organization (SIDO) policy, the International Labour Organization (ILO) policy and Labour Law 2006.
Tahmina Rahman, general secretary of Bangladesh Poshak Shilpo Sramik Federation, Rokeya Sultana Anju, president of Bangladesh Garment Sramik Jote, Mamataz Begum, president of Awaj Foundation and Syeda Selina Shely of Karmajibi Nari among others, were present in the programme.