Solidarity Center: Advancing Worker Rights in Bangladesh
The Solidarity Center’s Bangladesh programme focuses on advancing worker rights in various sectors, including garment, domestic work, seafood processing, shrimp farming, tannery, tea, construction, and migrant labour. The initiative partners with independent unions and local organizations to promote the rights of Bangladeshi workers, with a particular emphasis on gender equality and the empowerment of women workers. Through capacity building, advocacy, and support for collective bargaining, the programme aims to improve working conditions and ensure that workers can freely exercise their rights without fear of retaliation.
Five‑Axis Transformation via Solidarity Center
Data: The programme conducts research to identify and document labour rights violations across various sectors, providing evidence to support advocacy efforts and inform policy recommendations.
Capacity Building / Technical Assistance: Solidarity Center offers training and resources to union leaders and workers, enhancing their ability to negotiate for better wages, safer working conditions, and the protection of their rights.
Technology / Machinery: While not directly involved in technological interventions, the programme supports the adoption of technologies that improve workplace safety and efficiency, particularly in sectors like seafood processing and garment manufacturing.
Finance: The initiative advocates for fair wages and improved financial benefits for workers, working with employers and policymakers to ensure that workers receive compensation that reflects their labour and supports their livelihoods.
Policy: Solidarity Center engages with government agencies, international organizations, and employers to promote policies that uphold workers’ rights, including the right to unionize, the right to safe working conditions, and the right to fair compensation.
Strategic Impact & Value Proposition
Empowered Workers: By strengthening unions and providing training, the programme empowers workers to advocate for their rights and negotiate better terms with employers.
Improved Working Conditions: Through advocacy and capacity building, the initiative contributes to safer and more equitable workplaces across various sectors.
Gender Equality: The programme places a strong emphasis on the rights of women workers, promoting gender equality and addressing issues such as harassment and discrimination in the workplace.
Support for Migrant Workers: Solidarity Center advocates for the rights of Bangladeshi migrant workers, ensuring that they are treated with dignity and respect, and have access to the same protections as domestic workers.
Sustainable Labour Practices: By promoting fair labour practices and supporting the establishment of strong unions, the programme contributes to the development of a more sustainable and just labour market in Bangladesh.