Female garment workers demand an end to violence against women

The demonstrators also include domestic workers in their call for safer workplaces and extended maternity leave

A group of women, including garment workers, have taken to the streets demanding an end to violence and sexual abuse against women, as well as the ensuring of six months of maternity leave for female workers.

On Friday morning, International Women's Day, the Sommilito Sramik Federation, or SSF, and the Awaj Foundation presented their demands in front of the National Press Club under their respective banners. Both organisations advocate for labour rights in Bangladesh.

The women held placards that said – 'Six months maternity leave must be granted, 'We demand six months maternity leave', 'Stop violence against women', 'Introduce social security for workers', and 'Ratify ILO C-190'.

SSF leader Parveen Akhtar stated, "Women's rights have yet to be enforced, which is unfortunate and painful for us. Women's rights are merely spoken of, but no action is taken."

"Our women have also made contributions to the anti-discrimination campaign. In fact, where are they? No one sees them anymore," she said.

Parveen stated, "Women working within the garment industry do not receive maternity leave. Why haven't domestic workers been incorporated into the legislation even today?"

Parveen urged the government to change the rules so that garment workers would have six months of paid maternity leave. She also called for a similar law to be enacted for domestic workers.

Garment worker Rehana Akhter pointed out the lack of safety for women in the industry. "The [garment] owners and the government are constantly claiming how many laws are being made. Yet, there is still brutality and violence against women. There is no solution for this," she said.

Dilruba Khatun stated, "We keep saying and shouting that without EPZ, there are no women's rights in the garment industry — you must grant us our rights. But in practice, it's just words, I'm not sure if anything is actually being done or not."

Dilruba pointed out the everyday inequalities that women experience, stressing that although her fellow male demonstrators have easily taken care of their bodily functions during the programme, women have been unable to do so due to a shortage of female toilets.

The SSF presented a 26-point list of demands in the programme. These demands include six months of maternity leave, the cessation of sexual harassment and all forms of abuse in the workplace, the enactment of laws against physical, mental, verbal, and sexual harassment at work, and the establishment of a speedy trial system for cases of sexual harassment.

The list also called for ensuring protection for female domestic workers from abuse and harassment in their workplaces, mandatory equal representation of women in trade union leadership, prioritising female workers in the creation of new job opportunities, and provisions for the rehabilitation of unemployed female workers, among others.

The president of the Samajtantrik Sramik Jote, Mosharraf Hossain, along with other central leaders, also expressed solidarity with the cause and delivered speeches.