Invest in healthcare of female RMG workers

A sector as large and as booming as RMG, with the majority of its  4.2 million workers being young women between 18 and 35, it should be a moral obligation for all factory owners to facilitate reproductive healthcare to their employees. A research study has shown that 20 percent of the female workers remain absent from work due to sexual health-related problems.  Female workers have limited access to gynecological services. Such services should be ensured by the employers not just for ethical reasons but because this will increase productivity by reducing absenteeism.

A roundtable discussion held by The Daily Star and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, has pointed out that most owners of readymade garment factories are yet to realise the economic benefits of investing in health care for their female workers. Introducing a health insurance scheme is the most logical solution. The health insurance would be jointly paid by workers and factory owners. The study cited has estimated a loss of USD 22.5 million per year due to such absenteeism. Thus from a financial point of view too, it makes good business sense to have healthy, more efficient, workers.

For the women workers who work long grueling hours, access to reproductive healthcare is crucial. Absenteeism ultimately leads to lowering of their wages which makes going to a doctor even more unaffordable. Thus it is in the interest of the industry as well as the country's progress to make sure services that promote overall health are ensured for these women workers and it is the responsibility of the employers to do this by providing health insurance.