Initiative of KN for The Workers

Informal Sector

Migrant workers

Karmojibi Nari started to discuss about the rights of migrant workers among the CSOs since the early of twenty first century and tried to work together with the CSOs on this issue as the government was not so much sensitized about rights of migrants in that time. Karmojibi Nari also involved with the international and regional level Platforms like Committee for Asian Women (CAW), Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) and Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women International Secretariat (GAATW-IS) from where learn the ongoing movements and issues of migrant women and also initiate advocacy nationally. KN works with other CSOs to harmonize the law of migrant workers rights titled ”Overseas Employment and Migrants Act, 2013”.

Operating Women Empowerment and Information Center (WEIC)

KN started to work directly with the aspirant and returnee migrant since 2015. Through the working experience KN found that access to proper information and lack of skill and knowledge is the most important barrier for the women to migrate and involve in job/employment. In this regard KN established Women Empowerment and Information Center (WEIC) in the localities/communities to reach the vulnerable work-age women and disseminate proper information and services at their convenience. Though this centre KN provides women empowerment trainings, sessions of job counseling, referral services for access to jobs or local entitlements, migration related support (information related to obtain passport, fill up the form etc.), skill training, discussion on entrepreneurship development and also provide/refer legal aid support to the victims of migration. Besides, during the COVID period KN referred beneficiaries to get food support from Govt. & Non-Govt. organizations, health & hygiene materials, cash support from Govt through this WEIC. KN also gives support to the working women for get registered in the online COVID vaccine registration.KN conducted these activities with the supports from development partners named DFID, ILO, MJF, Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) and BRAC.

Agricultural Workers

KN realized the necessity to work among the women workers of the informal sector. Agriculture is the most important informal economic sector in Bangladesh in which the number of women is increasing with the growing changes of our economy. From 2005 KN started organizing the agricultural workers, educating and aware them about their rights as well as developing their leadership capacity so that they can attain their rights in the various services offers from the government (especially local government) and non-government service providers. At the same time to increase their income and ensure livelihood and food security KN is trying to establish networks/relationship of the agri workers with the local government institutions (LGIs).

Policy Advocacy, Campaign and Lobby

In the Labour law of 2006 there were provisions only for the formal sector workers. Thus, from 2005 KN stared demanding the recognition of agricultural worker as `worker’ and also initiate advocacy for a separate labour law for the agriculture labours as the BLA, 2006 the workers were not recognized. After a prolonged policy advocacy, the Labour Law 2006 was amended in 2013 where “agricultural Worker” was included in the “Definition” (Section 2) of the law. Besides, in the Labour Rules, 2015 the rights to form trade union was stated for the farm agricultural workers [Section 167 (4)]. KN campaign for getting work during workless time for the agriculture worker. The slogan was ”shara bochhor kaj chai” (give work over the year) and the governement started the 100-days employment scheme (now it is 80-days).

To do the Policy advocacy and campaign KN formed a strong Platform named ”Krishi Shromic Adhikar Mancha” (Agri Worker’s Rights Platform) in National level where the prominent personalities, Ministers and MPs are in the comittee. Besides, KN formed 10 (ten) district level ”Krishisrmic Ain Aday Andolan Committee” in 10 districts comprising agri worker and civil society organizations which are acting as pressure group in favour of Law for agriculture workers.

Women Farmers

KN carried out a Campaign on Recognizing Women’s Contribution in Food Security of Bangladesh. The primary objective of campaign was to raise awareness on the contribution of women farmers in the national and household level food security and mobilize public opinion towards the recognition of women farmers’ contribution and need for policy measurers to promote women rights as farmers.

Besides KN works to ensure rights and dignity of other informal women workers like domestic worker, beauty parlour workers, hospital support workers (cleaner, helper-aya, guard) and so on.