Dhaka,07.03.2024 – The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Sustainable Textile Initiative: Together for Change (STITCH) are delighted to announce the successful completion of their joint initiative aimed at promoting gender sensitivity and eliminating sexual harassment in BKMEA member factories.
The collaborative effort, which spanned several months, resulted in the development of a comprehensive learning and monitoring resource pack. This pack includes a guidance document for developing in-house policies, guidelines on Sexual Harassment Complaint Committee (SHCC) formation, a process flowchart for complaint management, awareness-raising packages for workers and Management staffs, and a monitoring tool to ensure effective implementation.
The finalization of these resources was done though a two-day joint Validation workshop held on March 6-7, 2024 at Dhaka. The workshop provided a platform for BKMEA and STITCH staff members to engage in collaborative discussions, share insights, and collectively shape the direction of this crucial initiative.
The closing ceremony was graced by BKMEA Vice President Mr. Fazlee Shamim Ehsan along with Country Manager of Fair Wear Foundation Mr. Md. Bablur Rahman and Country Manager of ETI Bangladesh Mr. Abil Bin Amin. The speakers highlighted the commitment to fostering positive change in the textile industry. BKMEA Vice President Mr. Fazlee Shamim Ehsan distributed certificates among the participants during the ceremony, adding an extra layer of recognition to the participants and reinforcing the importance of ongoing Gender sensitive workplace awareness.
The successful completion of this joint initiative represents a milestone in the ongoing efforts to promote gender sensitivity and eliminate sexual harassment in the textile industry. BKMEA and STITCH remain dedicated to the continued implementation and monitoring of these resources, ensuring a lasting positive impact on workplaces across Bangladesh RMG sector.
For further information or media inquiries, please contact:
Bablur Rahman
Country Manager, Fair Wear
Contact: 01716328111
rahman@fairwear.org
About STITCH
Sustainable Textile Initiative: Together for Change (STITCH) is a partnership that aims to work collectively towards a global textile and garment industry that contributes to an equal and just society by respecting human rights in the world of work. STITCH is active in garment-producing countries across Asia, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, and has developed a regional approach for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
In Bangladesh the partnership consists of 3 organizations: the Ethical Trading Initiative, Fair Wear and Mondiaal FNV in partnership with the Netherlands embassy. We share the goal of an industry in Bangladesh where garment workers, of which 55% are women, can exercise their right to freedom of association, and access safe, dignified and properly paid work. We envisage workplaces where workers feel free to speak out, unionise, and bargain collectively for better working conditions and the partnership aims to amplify workers’ voices, help achieve trade union and civil society objectives and drive change by convening and aligning supply chain stakeholders.
