Since garment factories in Bangalore have reopened after COVID-19 lockdowns, people have returned to work. 2021 has seen business orders in the garment sector pick up, factories reopened and notices calling for workers at factory gates. But it has not been an easy return for women workers who have faced continued discrimination and rights violations every day. It has been worse for pregnant women who haven't been allowed to work, creche facilities closed without alternatives, lunch breaks cut.

But one thing remains the same: high work pressure and unrealistic production targets. The garment industry employs over 4 lakh women workers who are being pushed deeper & deeper into socio-economic crisis. They haven’t recovered from the difficulties they faced during the lockdown and are now welcomed with newer methods of discrimination. 

Last month, after a foetus was found in the garbage bin of a factory, the company cited that pregnant women have been barred from working in line with government  COVID-19 directives (https://in.apparelresources.com/business-news/sustainability/follow-foetus-garbage-bin-garment-factory-proactively-working-authorities/ Pregnant women have not received pay and in some instances have been dismissed on receipt of knowledge that they are pregnant.

The day Aabha (*name changed), a garment factory worker, informed her manager that she is pregnant, she was asked to quit and sit at home- without a promised wage or any maternal benefits! 

Lunch breaks for workers have been reduced from 30 to 20 minutes, there is no first aid, no transportation provided and no attendance bonus. Many women workers have had to lock their young children at home unsupervised, as there is no safe space for them after creche facilities were closed early last year. 

We demand:  

• The factory management must ensure that women workers are safe, and illegal actions to prevent women from working there must be stopped. 
• All women with children must be provided with alternative facilities/compensation for childcare, to ensure that their children remain safe while they are at work. 
• Brands must ensure that all suppliers are ensuring an environment of safety and non-discrimination for women workers. 

We wouldn’t have stayed quiet had this been happening in any other industry. Why stay quiet now? 

Please sign my petition asking to make garment factories more inclusive workplaces for women workers.