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Day 10

3 meals a day for children of seamstresses in Bangladesh

Daycare centers instead of child labor Daycare centers instead of child labor

3 meals a day for children of seamstresses in Bangladesh
Day 10
Healthy food for children of seamstresses in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a ten-hour flight from Germany, and yet the country is closer to us than most others: every day we wear clothes that come from Bangladesh. Every day millions of Bangladeshis sew T-shirts, dresses and trousers for us. Today, many people also know that a large part of this clothing is produced under poor working conditions. Seamstresses usually work up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week, in the factory. Many of them have small children. But few people think about who looks after the children while the seamstresses are at work. "Free childcare for workers helps prevent child labor. I started working as a seamstress myself when I was 12," says Kalpona Akter from the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity. "Our daycare offers the children the opportunity to develop freely and take a different path in life."

Healthy food for children of seamstresses in Bangladesh
need
Nutrition for children of seamstresses in a daycare center in Bangladesh.
activity
Local NGO buys food and prepares 3 meals a day for the daycare children.
Measurable performance
Number of meals distributed to the children.
Result
The measure provides 20 children with healthy meals a day.
Systemically relevant impact
Improving the health and educational opportunities for school children of seamstresses.
background

Four million people in Bangladesh work in the clothing industry to support themselves and their families. Around 80% of those employed in the industry are women (Clean Clothes Campaign, 2018). The Bangladeshi government has set the minimum wage at around 52 euros a month. However, there has been no increase in the last five years. In collective bargaining in Germany, unions regularly fight for wage adjustments. In Bangladesh, the influence of unions is weaker. The regular wage is no longer enough to support families.

In order to feed their families, seamstresses often work long hours of overtime. 100 hours of overtime per month is not uncommon. The lack of childcare facilities poses challenges for working mothers and fathers. If they cannot afford to simply stop working, even the smallest children stay at home alone or are looked after by older siblings, who then neglect school. If the children stay at home, they are often asked to do homework, for example, helping with sewing sequins. This means that they have no chance to concentrate on their school education.

Dhaka, Bangladesh
Day 10 Day 10
The good deed

In order to provide the children of the seamstresses with age-appropriate care, the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity runs a free daycare center. Today's good deed ensures that the children are fed. The children receive three healthy meals a day and clean drinking water. This lays the foundation for healthy development from an early age. Primary school children also visit the daycare center after school. Regular meals are important for them so that they can concentrate on learning. Daily meals improve the health and skills of the children. In addition, working mothers and fathers are relieved on various levels - both financially and from worries about the care and safety of their children. At the same time, FEMNET eV is promoting the strengthening of trade unions locally and is conducting awareness campaigns in Germany on the subject of fair clothing.

AboutBangladesh
Dhaka
Dhaka
Capital city
164 800 000
164 800 000
Population
3.611
3.611
Gross domestic product per capita per year
136
136
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

Bangladesh is the world's largest exporter of clothing after China. Over four million workers, mainly women, try to make a living from working in the clothing industry.
About the organization and further information

organization

FEMNET eV

Website

http://www.femnet-ev.de

Transparent Civil Society Initiative

FurtherLeft