USAID To Empower Women For Sustainable Future In RMG Sector

The number of women in the garment industry sector is decreasing gradually due to low wages, long hours, pressure to meet production targets, a lack of skills for automated machinery, workplace harassment, and the burden of child-rearing and domestic responsibilities.

USAID’s Women Thrive in Bangladesh project convened a roundtable on “Building a Sustainable Future for Women in the Ready-made Garment (RMG) Sector” for the country’s overall development at Hotel Radisson Blu Dhaka on Monday (October 28).

The proportion of female workers in the garment industry has dropped to less than 55%, affecting their economic empowerment and well-being. This decline also impacts global brands' business strategies in Bangladesh and the government's development goals, the participants at the event noted.

Participants highlighted the need to empower women with new skills and create gender-friendly workplaces to improve productivity, worker well-being, gender equality, and sustainable growth in the garment industry.

Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, delivered the keynote speech at the event.

Key recommendations for global brands, employers and the government include strengthening policies on women's rights and social protection, such as the Women Development Policy, National Social Security Strategy, and National Employment Policy. They also called for ratifying ILO Convention 190 against workplace violence and ensuring workplace equity.

CARE Bangladesh, through USAID's Women Thrive in Bangladesh project, offers professional skills and leadership training to women garment workers in PVH Corp supply chain factories and communities. The project aims to train over 100,000 women by 2026.

The program was presided over by Ramesh Singh, Regional Director, CARE Asia. Blair King, Deputy Director of USAID’s Office of Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, Bushra Binte Baten, Corporate Responsibility Manager, PVH Corp.; Md Matiur Rahman, Joint Inspector General, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments; SM Anamul Hoque, Director, Department of Labour; Mohammed Hatem, President, BKMEA; Vidiya Amrit Khan, Deputy Managing Director, Desh Group of Companies and Former Director, BGMEA; Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, Chairman, Workers Rights Reform Commission and Executive Director.

Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), Ferdous Ara Begum, CEO, BUILD, Emelda Mullick, Project Management Specialist, USAID, Mehrul Islam, DCD-P, CARE Bangladesh also spoke at the event. The discussion was moderated by Aamanur Rahman, Chief of Party, USAID’s Thrive Activity.