BRAC, H&M Foundation host global conference on women RMG workers

BRAC and H&M Foundation, non-profit foundation funded by clothing brand H&M, will jointly host a three-day global conference to safeguard the livelihood of the women workers in the readymade garment sector in Bangladesh.

The conference “STITCH for RMG global innovation conference” will begin on June 22 virtually and continue till June 24.

Industry experts from around the world would feature the conference aiming to protect the livelihoods of women garment workers caused mainly by automation, said a press release.

Helena Helmersson, chief executive officer of H&M Group, and Faruque Hassan, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, will attend the conference, among others.

Anyone interested can apply for registration through stitchforrmg.brac.net at free of cost but confirmation of attendance depends on availability of capacity. Last date of application is June 19.

Charlotte Brunnstrom, strategy lead at the H&M Foundation said,“In our work together with BRAC we have high hopes to reveal what skills are needed for women in the future garment industry. Our long-term goal is to prepare and equip the women to work successfully alongside artificial intelligence and automation, and by this safeguard their livelihoods. Only appropriate efforts to skill the female workforce can lessen the negative effects,”

Asif Saleh, executive director of BRAC, said, “As the sector is going through a shift, we can't leave the women behind. Through this project, we hope to mainstream innovations that can re-skill them and also scale up innovations that can make the industry ready for a future which is technology driven and more equal.”