WOMEN are becoming self-reliant through their involvement in various sectors such as government and non-government offices, private firms and garment factories, and this has tremendously lessened the burden upon the male classes in Bangladesh. Definitely it is such a positive scenario about their progress and for this, the country’s financial managers deserve thanks as their multi-dimentional initiatives have propelled to create such a ground for improving lifestyle of the women. Granting maternity leave for the young employees is such an initiative. The New Nation reported on Saturday that due to effective initiatives by the government, maternal mortality rate in Bangladesh has declined by more than 66% over the last two decades. Data indicate that the numbers of women employees has increased in Bangladesh. It is mentionable that 13 lakh women are engaged in the formal sector and women employment rate is 5.8%. Due to job security, female workers of RMG do not discontinue from their jobs after child birth as RMG has ensured the provision of maternal leave for 6 months for women.
In spite of the positive scenario of women development, a working woman who becomes a mother still undergoes some perils — face discrimination in maternity benefits depending on the nature of profession and also between the government and private sector employers. This discrimination against women is uncalled for and in our view it must go. It is noticeable that working women in government offices and public sector banks are enjoying six months maternity leave with pay to prepare for motherhood and take care of newborn babies. But in private sectors they get less leave and lesser benefits. We know Bangladesh Labour Act-2006 has granted leave with benefits for working pregnant women as their right but lack of proper monitoring over the private sector deprives many of such benefits. The state must ensure equitable maternity rights and benefits to all irrespective of the nature of jobs and whether it be in the public or private sector.
According to the report, nearly three million female workers are working in the readymade garments sector and it is 80-85 percent of the total workforce employed there. The huge numbers of women are thus propelling the steering wheel of the country’s economy. But it is also reported that many garment workers are denied of the benefits forcing them to leave the job while many others get only part of the benefits they are entitled to. We are against all form of gender discrimination and call for equal treatment of female workers in public and private sector workplaces.
The state must develop a mechanism to make sure that every woman at work can enjoy maternity leave so that a mother feels healthy at pregnancy to help build a healthy future nation.
