GAIN to install fair price shops for RMG workers

Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has initiated to set up shops at Ready-Made Garment (RMG) factories to sell goods at comparatively lower prices to the workers.   

The non-profit foundation came up with the initiative as the prices of essentials continue to rise in the country affecting the underprivileged communities especially the garment workers, said a press release.    

Under the initiative, about 80,000 people including 20,000 female workers and 60,000 family members are likely to get the benefits.

The decision was made at a kick-off meeting titled ‘RMG Workers’ Access to Affordable Nutritious and Safe Food’ at a hotel in Capital’s Gulshan area on Tuesday.

GAIN, a Switzerland-based international development organisation, arranged the meeting with the participation of partner organisations and stakeholders to chalk out future strategy on technical assistance and how to make the initiative success.

The project is aimed to ensure access of nutritious foods for RMG workers with affordable prices and strengthening the food marketing management.

It also aimed at working for ensuring nutritious and safe foods for RMG workers so that they can play more productive role for production in the RMG sector.

Mohammad Ehsan-E-Elahi, Secretary of Labour and Employment Ministry, who was the chief guest at the event, lauded the initiative and called for the expansion of such facility to other factories across the country.

Other speakers said, it is imperative to give priority to the issue of safe and nutritious foods for the workers for implementing the government’s Perspective Plan 2021-2041 and achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

The speakers also called upon those involved in production, processing, supply and marketing of foods to establish fair price shops with nutritious foods at factory areas and encourage the workers to take such foods.  

Already several fair price shops were set up at two factories of Ashulia and Gazipur with the support of GAIN where about 15,000 RMG workers along with their family members are entitled to buy essentials from those shops with special discounts.