Violence at workplace

Many working Bangladeshi women face discrimination and violence despite the increased participation of them in the workforce

From Everest explorers to international level athletes Bangladeshis have become accustomed to high-achieving women symbolising  Bangladesh’s progress and progressiveness. However, there is another, darker side to the story, embodied by the thousands of Bangladeshi workers in the RMG and other sectors.

Threats, intimidation and sexual harassment of females at workplaces are even now pervasive in various sectors in Bangladesh and are serious barriers to the entry of women in workplaces. RMG sector in Bangladesh employs a huge number of women but safety record is unfortunately perhaps one of the worst here. According to a report of this newspaper recently as many as 60 per cent women in the RMG sector suffers from violence in the workplace and apparently little is being done to address the problem?

Ready Made Garment (RMG) industry employs approximately 90 percent female workers –mostly of impoverished families. Even though women workers dominate in numbers, female representation in supervisory roles and other high paid positions is dismally low. With so many women facing verbal or physical violence at their place of work, it is right to assume that violence against women in workplaces is not seen as a serious problem in Bangladesh.

The report also states that interventions would be more effective to prevent violence. Many interventions, trainings and workshops have been conducted by several stakeholders of the sector for eliminating workplace violence. But the harrowing statistics suggest that there is much room for improvement. The concerned authorities should immediately take effective steps to address this issue.

 Because of the patriarchal nature of the society even today in many places women are considered inferior and working women are looked down upon. Since their profession is frowned upon and victims of abuse are ostracised by the society, the majority of victims keeps quiet about the unholy phenomenon.  But question remains that since violence against women in the RMG industry is a widespread knowledge, why do these entities that are in place to protect the right of the people wait for complaints?

According to a report, managers in garment factories think that although a woman may be hit occasionally or yelled at, the work situation is still better than other alternatives open to poor uneducated women, such as sex work. The media and educated people of the society should work towards eradicating or changing this way of thinking. It is the constitutional right of a woman in Bangladesh that they ‘shall have equal rights in all spheres of the state and public life.’ The society as a whole should be made aware of this.

 

Violence at workplace

Many working Bangladeshi women face discrimination and violence despite the increased participation of them in the workforce

From Everest explorers to international level athletes Bangladeshis have become accustomed to high-achieving women symbolising Bangladeshs progress and progressiveness. However, there is another, darker side to the story, embodied by the thousands of Bangladeshi workers in the RMG and other sectors. Threats, intimidation and sexual harassment of females at workplaces are even now pervasive in various sectors in Bangladesh and are serious barriers to the entry of women in workplaces. RMG sector in Bangladesh employs a huge number of women but safety record is unfortunately perhaps one of the worst here. According to a report of this newspaper recently as many as 60 per cent women in the RMG sector suffers from violence in the workplace and apparently little is being done to address the problem? Ready Made Garment (RMG) industry employs approximately 90 percent female workers mostly of impoverished families. Even though women workers dominate in numbers, female representation in supervisory roles and other high paid positions is dismally low. With so many women facing verbal or physical violence at their place of work, it is right to assume that violence against women in workplaces is not seen as a serious problem in Bangladesh. The report also states that interventions would be more effective to prevent violence. Many interventions, trainings and workshops have been conducted by several stakeholders of the sector for eliminating workplace violence. But the harrowing statistics suggest that there is much room for improvement. The concerned authorities should immediately take effective steps to address this issue. Because of the patriarchal nature of the society even today in many places women are considered inferior and working women are looked down upon. Since their profession is frowned upon and victims of abuse are ostracised by the society, the majority of victims keeps quiet about the unholy phenomenon. But question remains that since violence against women in the RMG industry is a widespread knowledge, why do these entities that are in place to protect the right of the people wait for complaints? According to a report, managers in garment factories think that although a woman may be hit occasionally or yelled at, the work situation is still better than other alternatives open to poor uneducated women, such as sex work. The media and educated people of the society should work towards eradicating or changing this way of thinking. It is the constitutional right of a woman in Bangladesh that they shall have equal rights in all spheres of the state and public life. The society as a whole should be made aware of this.