Staff Reporter :
The women’s committee of trade unions of nine service organizations in Bangladesh, including Public Service International (PSI), has demanded Bangladesh’s signature in the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention-190 on Gender Equality in the workplace.
They hold a rally on Wednesday to demand an end to violence against women, an end to discrimination in the workplace, equality and the signing of a convention. The rally started from the front of Shahbagh National Museum in the capital and ended at the central Shaheed Minar via TSC.
Earlier, Nargis Jahan, general secretary of NCC Women’s Committee for Bangladesh, said at a pre-rally speech that PSI was a service organization on the 190th Convention. They have been working with about 700 trade unions in 154 countries around the world. PSI is working with ILO, Uniglobal, UN Women Commission, European Union and service organizations in Bangladesh. Their objective is to provide job security to the workers so that the workers are not deprived of their facilities the PSI is working in Bangladesh.
Shaki Rezwana, chairman of the OC Foundation and female editor of BFTUC, said, “In the 21st century, pregnant women are being raped. Do we have to look at this now?” So where do we stand? Now is the time to build house-to-house resistance and social movements. Examples like this happening every day, all the time. Nothing will happen just by law. Cause of
if the law is not implemented properly, there is no benefit from the paper. We do not see any instance of punishment for the offender. That is why criminals are committing more crimes day by day.
Kohinoor Mahmud, director of the Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS), said, “Even after 50 years of independence, we have to take to the streets against violence against women.” But it was not supposed to happen. Because the country has become independent against discrimination, on the principle of equality, everyone will live as a citizen with dignity, pride and equality. This was the consciousness-commitment of independence.
She said that if the ILO Convention-190 is ratified and legislation is enacted on its basis then discrimination, injustice, exploitation and torture are its remedy and prevention is possible.
Also speaking were Manjurul Islam Monju, President of Water Development Board Workers Welfare Union, Nasrin Akhter Dina, General Secretary of Bangladesh Women Welfare Workers Union, Ferdousi Begum, Female Editor of PGCB Workers Union, Fatema Begum, Arjuman Aktari.
