"NEED FOR NATIONAL POLICY ON HOMEBASED WORKERS"
WORKSHOP HELD ON May 15, 2003
OVERVIEW
VENUE
: B.R.D.B. Training center, Barisal.
DATE
: 15th May 2003.
TIME : 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
CHAIRPERSON : Mrs. Hosne Ara Rafiq,
President, Mahila Unnayan Sangstha.
PARTICIPANTS
: 16 representatives from homeworker
associations in Barisal district.
AGENDA
: Need for formulating and implementing
"National Policy" for Homebased workers
ORGANISERS
: Bangladesh Homeworker Women Association
(BHWA), Dhaka &
Mahila Unnayan Samiti, Borobashail
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES WHO ATTENDED THE
WORKSHOP
1. Mahboob Islam - Upazila Social Welfare Dept., Aagailjhora.
2. Humayun Kabir - Upazila Youth Development Dept.,
Aagailjhora.
3. Nazmul Huda - Upazila Fisheries Dept., Aagailjhora.
4. Farida Khatun - Office Assistant, Upazila Women Affairs
Dept.
5. Gazi Mizanur Rehman - Credit Supervisor, Upazila
Youth Development dept.
6. Rekha Rani Haldar - Member, No. 1,Rajihar Development
Organization.
MEDIA
REPRESENTATIVES WHO ATTENDED THE WORKSHOP
1. Azad Rehman - Aajker Kagoz
2. Saiful Islam Rab - Jugantar
3. Tapan Kumar Basu - Jugantar
4. Monir Hussain - Dainik Dakkhinanchal
5. Abdus Salam Howlader - Aajker Baarta
6. Saiful Islam Liton - Official media representative
of Dept. of Youth Development.
LOCAL
POLITICIANS AND LEADERS WHO ATTENDED THE WORKSHOP
1. Shobhan Rehman
2. Monir Khondokar
3. Mohammed Ali Khondokar
4. Babul Fakir
EXCERPTS FROM GUEST SPEECHES
SAIFUL
ISLAM LITON - He thanked BHWA for opening a window
of opportunity for the homebased women workers in the
far flung, remote villages of the country by helping
to conduct these workshops. In the absence of a national
policy for homebased workers, these women are robbed
of many benefits like minimum wages, rest days, festival
bonuses etc. Closure of garment factories in the cities
had made a large number of women workers jobless. Unable
to get another job, they very often turned to illegal
means of making a livelihood. Providing homebased work
to these women would be an ideal way to help tackle
their joblessness.
SHAHADAT
HUSSEIN - Chairman, Borobashail Tarun Sangha (youth
association)
Women who work from home creating exquisite handicrafts
and other items need to be given recognition by the
government. As of today, they are deprived of many opportunities
and benefits available to workers in other sectors.
NAZMUL
HUDA - Officer, Fisheries department
He stressed on these women workers getting recognition
from society and minimum wages. The government needs
to immediately formulate and implement a standard policy
on homebased workers. He assured the participants of
raising this issue at various public and government
forums on their behalf.
HUMAYUN
KABIR - Youth Development Department
He mentioned that 80% of the country's population lived
in villages. Most of the women in these households make
various items at home for sale and to earn extra money.
The large numbers make it necessary for an immediate
formulation of a national policy on their working conditions.
GROUP
DISCUSSIONS
Problems
faced
(a)
Social ostracism
(b) Lack of social security
(c) Lack of operating funds
(d) Lack of good quality training
(e) Communication and transport problems
(f) Outdated machinery
(g) Minimum wages not assured
(h) Lack of marketing expertise.
(i) Lack of government support and facilities
(j) Low levels of literacy
(k) Absence of suitable premises
(l) Lack of proper direction and guidance
(m) Inadequate Donor support
Suggestions
put forth by the participants
(a)
Arrange for monetary assistance from government and
donor organizations
(b) Run projects on a contract basis in association
with donors.
(c) Encourage village women to work from home so that
they can achieve a certain level of financial independence,
help change their mindsets.
(d) Make an effort to remove social superstitions.
(e) Conduct training courses for women.
(f) Pressurize the government to adopt a national policy
for homebased workers
(g) Each organization should guide and direct the women
workers on a local level so that they are more productive.
(h) Improve communication between organizations.
(i) Try and procure latest machinery
(j) Improve literacy levels among women.
The workshop ended with all participants agreeing to
send in more information on their respective organizations
to BHWA so that future interactions could be more meaningful.
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