RMG factory owners unaware of business benefits
Owners of readymade garment factories have not yet fully realised the economic benefits of investing in health needs of their female workers, said speakers at a roundtable yesterday.
Citing a study conducted by market research firm Kaizen CRS, the discussants pointed out that 20 percent of female RMG workers remain absent from work due to illnesses related to menstrual hygiene.
While the RMG sector incurs loss of about USD 22.5 million per annum due to this absenteeism, the workers suffer a vicious cycle of illness leading to absenteeism, which in turn leads to lower wages. The situation ultimately leads to restricting workers' access to sexual and reproductive health services due to low wages.
The roundtable on "Ensuring Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for Garment Workers through Health Insurance" was organised by The Daily Star and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation at the daily's office in the capital.
Farhtheeba Rahat Khan, team leader of Working with Women Project at SNV, said health insurance paid jointly by factory owners can largely mitigate Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) issues faced by women workers.
She added that around 85 percent of the country's 4.2 million RMG workers are women, most of who fall in the 18-35 age group.
She said SNV, with funding support from the Dutch embassy, is implementing health insurance inclusive business models in eight garment factories.
Nur Hossain Talukdar, director general of the Directorate General of Family Planning, urged the private sector to extend family planning services as it is not possible for the government alone to provide such services to all.
MJ Azim, managing director of Pragati Life Insurance, said only USD 0.5 per month given by each RMG worker can give them a peace of mind as they would be assured that all of their medical expenses are covered.
Tahmina Rahman, general secretary of Bangladesh Apparels Workers Federation, highlighted poor hygiene in bathrooms of garment factories, and said inspectors should make "unannounced visits" to factories.
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam said the sheer number of women workers in the RMG sector demands special focus from policymakers.
Shahnoor Wahid, special supplements editor of The Daily Star, moderated the programme which Ella de Voogd, first secretary SRHR, Education and Gender at Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, addressed among others.
Comments