GTZ PROGRESS

Overview     Empowerment of Female Garment Workers The RMG industry has allowed unparalleled access of women to gainful employment – it provides work to about 2.5 million women, accounting for almost three-quarters of formal female wage employment in the country. Despite this visible transformation, restrictive gender stereotypes persist. Women are locked in low wage positions. Social disempowerment is prevalent – early marriage rates are the highest in Asia. Predominant perceptions of women as restricted to the domestic setting discourage them from making use of the law to exercise their rights. PROGRESS is contributing to a positive and sustained change in this situation. With the majority of the beneficiaries women, PROGRESS has carried out a variety of mutually reinforcing activities aiming at women’s economic empowerment by facilitating access of disadvantaged women to the job market and encouraging career development through skill development, legal empowerment by nurturing leadership among workers and through awareness raising activities, and social empowerment as an effect of economic and legal empowerment. Not only have PROGRESS’ interventions enhanced the occupational and social status of women but they have also made commercial sense for the industry. Selected indicators (%)   Bangladesh   Thailand Female literacy 52.1 89.7 Labor force participation (female) 59.7 70.1 Proportion of women in managerial positions 8 26 Women in nonagricultural sectors 23.1 46.4 Female wage and salary workers 11.7 42.4 Life expectancy at birth (female0, years 65 74 Fertility rates 2.9 1.9 Pregnant women receiving prenatal care 51 97 Teenage mothers 33 NA   Figures on Bangladeshi garment workers Gender   Some 80% female Education 20% no education Schooling Average 5 years   Marital status 48% married, 6% divorced Avg. working hours 11 daily Household duties 85% perform household duties Annual leave entitlement Only 1% aware of entitlement Avg. monthly salary BDT3000

Publications   Empowerment of Female Garment Workers Overview Skill Development Fact Sheet News and Events   8-12 March 2010: PROGRESS participation in GTZ Gender Week