45pc face it in RMG sector: study

Readymade garment workers encountered five forms of gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in their workplaces, according to a study released yesterday.

Among them, 45 percent experienced sexual violence and harassment, 22 percent psychological harassment, 17 percent verbal abuse, nine percent encountered economic exploitation, and seven percent physical violence, said the report.

The study, focusing on GBVH in RMG factories in Bangladesh, was conducted by nine RMG workers' organisations with support of Solidarity Center. Around 140 workers -- male and female -- participated in the study.

It was presented at an event titled "Publication of Research Report and Roundtable of Stakeholders" at The Daily Star Centre.

Nilufar Ahmed Karim, consultant at Solidarity Center's Bangladesh Office; Urmi Akhter, president of Hoplun Apparel Ltd Sammilito Sramik Union; Tamija Khatun, education and social welfare secretary of Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers Union Federation; and Khadiza Akhter, general secretary of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, presented the research findings at the event.

Due to sexual violence and harassment, 89 percent of workers suffered mental breakdowns, while 83 percent lost interest in their jobs, said the study.

Of the incidents, 71 percent occurred inside the factory, 15 percent took place outside the factory, nine percent at home, and five percent happened during daily commute, the report added.

 The study further said that 57 percent of workers lost their jobs, 45 percent had to temporarily stop working or lost pay, 54 percent experienced family problems, and 48 percent reported an increase or decrease in their production targets if they filed complaints with the authorities.

Additionally, 65 percent of the workers shared that the perpetrators held power due to their good relations with mid-to-senior-level management employees, while 26 percent of them had connections with locally influential people and their associates.

The majority of GBVH perpetrators were co-workers and supervisors as 22 percent of GBVH incidents were caused by co-workers, with the same percentage applicable to supervisors. The second-highest group responsible for GBVH were line chiefs and mid-to-senior-level management officials, according to the study.

Thirty-six percent of workers said their experience of GBVH was worsened through character shaming and rumours -- tactics often used by management and perpetrators to justify their abuse, revealed the study.

Furthermore, 50 percent of workers faced wage deductions or were made to work extra hours without overtime pay by their supervisors or factory management if they did not agree to their sexual advances.

The study provided several recommendations for the government, employers, trade unions, and federations to combat GBVH among RMG factories.

They include -- ratifying and implementing ILO Convention 190 (C190) concerning violence and harassment, formulating and implementing legislation and policies that incorporate ILO C190 standards, and mandating inclusion of neutral third parties in anti-harassment committees to ensure the fair handling of GBVH complaints in workplaces.

Enforcing a zero-tolerance policy to address GBVH, especially in cases where factory owners, senior and mid-level officers are directly or indirectly involved, and raising awareness among management and workers through videos, images, and infographics is also recommended.

Additionally, the study recommended that trade unions and federations prioritise prevention of GBVH and women workers' safety as core union issues, formulate gender policies and action plans, and establish anti-harassment committees.

Lawmaker Aroma Dutta was present at the event as the chief guest. Nasima Akhter, additional DIG of Criminal Control Zone; AKM Nasir, country programme director of Solidarity Center Bangladesh Office, and its deputy country programme director Monika Hartsel were also present at the event.