Researsh & Study

Gender-Based Violence in The Local Readymade Factories in Bangladesh

Timeline: 2020

The local readymade garment industry made a silent revolution, contributes 80% to local consumption of Bangladesh. This informal sector presently suffers from an acute deficit in decent work, where 85% of workers being women. Gender-based violence, including sexual violence and various forms of discrimination extremely exists in this sector.Gender-based violence (GBV) and discrimination are significantly present in the local RMG sector in Keraniganj, Dhaka. The ratio of female worker is higher than male worker and workers come from poor socio-economic background. In this sector, most women workers serve as helpers, while the majority of male workers serve as operators. There are no separate toilet facilities and the toilets are mostly dirty and unhygienic. As a result, women workers face extreme difficulties during menstruation. It has been found that male workers receive due payment accordingly, whereas most female workers do not. Sexual harassment, such as hugging, using slangs, slapping, forcible kissing, indecent gestures, and touching private parts, is common, and most perpetrators are owners and masters.

Experiences of verbal or physical harassment generate forms of resistance that effectively lower productivity. This study explored how different forms of GBV exist and effects the female workers in local RMG factories.

Objective: To identify the form and nature of GBV, along with its prevalence, in the Local RMG industry in Keraniganj and to determine the level of knowledge, awareness among the workers about GBV and sexual harassment at workplace.

Methodology: This study is based on both qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches. The research conducted a survey with a semi-structured questionnaire among workers in Keraniganj, Dhaka. Moreover, this study conducted in-depth interviews with selected respondents. Additionally, several focus group discussions with selected respondents were arranged.

Findings and Recommendations: GBV against women is extreme, and the working situation is vulnerable in the Keraniganj local RMG sector. Gender relation is a social product and it is constituted within a set of power relation. Highly sexualized vocabulary, pinching, expressing illicit proposals and bullying of women workers are very common. Only few women workers associated with trade union, even most of them have limited idea about it. Most of the female worker are facing sex-based harassment. Female workers are controlled by family members. Local mini-garments are running in very informal manner. Those neither have any code of conduct, nor are they following any formal employment procedure. With the support of BLF, they are building capacities to enhance leadership and knowledge. To eradicate these situations, advocacy initiatives, comprehensive regulations, and addressing GBV as a core obligation are needed. Initiative must be carried out to ensure that the factories adopt standard system. Besides, awareness rising workshops, trainings and BCC materials can be facilitated by BLF.

Researsh & Study

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