Govt urged to sign ILO convention-190

Readymade garments workers’ leaders have urged the government to sign ILO Convention-190 in order to make the country’s workplaces women-friendly and to stop sexual harassment.

They made the call on Friday at a rally under the banner “Sign and implement ILO Convention-190 to stop violence and harassment at workplace” organised by Green Bangla Garments Workers Federation at National Press Club.

RMG workers’ leaders said despite women’s participation continues to grow in both formal and non-formal sectors, women-friendly workplaces have not yet ensured while sexual harassment also could not be prevented as yet.

Any kind of workplace harassment including sexual is a clear violation of human rights and also an impediment to development, they said. As ILO convention is a landmark step, the demand for signing such a convention has turned into a demand for all the RMG workers.

They said if this convention is adopted, it will help strengthen Bangladesh’s commitment at the national and international levels and the image of the government will also be brightened.

In order to stop sexual harassment at the workplaces, they also placed a six-point demand which includes signing and implementing of the ILO Convention, prohibit violence and harassment by making law, transform High Court directives into law to prevent sexual harassment, form sexual harassment prevention committee in the workplace and educational institutions, ensure workplaces free of violence and harassment as well as remedies and help for the victims.