Chairman of Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB) Shamsul Bari speaks at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity in the city yesterday on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.Photo: STAR

Staff Correspondent

Marginalised women from excluded communities raised their voice yesterday demanding an end to gender and racial discrimination they face in their everyday life.

Sufia, a scavenger at DCC landfill in Matuail, said: “Just because we work with waste materials, people generally express a feeling of repulsion towards us. We are the ones who toil behind the recycling industry without any recognition. My children get the same treatment and we get half the amount paid to men.”

Women from Rishi and Buno communities along with those involved in sericulture, waste scavenging and construction industry shared their personal experience of dejected lives at a press conference.

Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB) organised the press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to be observed today.

All of the women present at programme mentioned a common experience of getting less payment in their areas of work. Their daily life struggle also includes harassment by male co-workers and lack of maternity leave.

Women in the sericulture sector mentioned that they do not have rights to labour union.

Construction worker Lovely said, “I get paid Tk 150 for 10 hours at workplace whereas my male colleagues get double. Besides, most people think this work is not dignified for women. So, they look down upon us as if we are doing something immoral.”

Parvin, who is involved in sericulture industry in Rajshahi, said: “We get maternity leave but without pay, which makes it hard to survive just after childbirth. If we take any additional leave for health complications, we get sacked from work.”

Marginalised women demanded women-friendly working atmosphere, personal security, equal wage, equal opportunity in life, fixed working hours, health services in case of accidents, day care for children and massive awareness programmes among the mainstream population to change their perspectives.

Shefali Rani from Buno community in Kushtia and Shamsul Bari, chairman of RIB, also spoke at the press briefing.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net

Popularity: 1% [?]