Five female Pacific Jeans workers to study at AUW

Five female workers of Pacific Jeans Limited will get the opportunity to study for free at the Asian University for Women (AUW) for an undergraduate degree while continuing to get their monthly wages.

One worker will be selected each year for the next five years, on condition of having already attained a Higher Secondary Certificate and passing an aptitude test of the AUW.

The AUW will cover all costs, including accommodation, tuition, books and supplies, primary healthcare and other basic needs during the five-year study period.

The AUW initiated the “Pathways for Promise Program” two years back. There are currently 59 female workers of 14 readymade garment factories studying under the programme.

Dr Dave Dowland, the AUW registrar, and Syed M Tanvir, director of the Chattogram-based jeans manufacturer and exporter, signed a memorandum of understanding at the latter's corporate head office at Chittagong Export Processing Zone yesterday.

Tanvir told The Daily Star that this support to make these five women's future brighter was a part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility programmes.

While the company wants these workers to rejoin following their graduation, they are not bound to do so, he added.