The Child daycare Centre
Women represent the
majority of workers in export processing zones in Bangladesh, and as such, any
investment in this group will have far-reaching impacts, from both business and
social perspectives. Creating women-friendly working environments has been
shown to have measurable, positive effects on an enterprise’s bottom
line,including:
-Reduced absenteeism and turnover, increased productivity, and enhanced worker
loyalty;
-Legal compliance and risk mitigation; and
-Improved worker satisfaction and worker-management communication
BKMEA believes in women participation in the industrial belt and has a long-term policy to help working mothers to have tension-free working time at the factories. BKMEA Child daycare Centre was established with Metro group, Germany from that commitment. It came into function on 01 August 2010 at BSCIC, Fatulla, Narayanganj. Its childcare capacity is 60 at the moment and BKMEA has a plan to enhance it upto 100 soon. Since inception, the center took care of total 2225 children of the poor knitwear workers.
Nutrition + Education+ Edutainment+ Introduction to Technology + Playing and games = BKMEA Child care center.
Its existing activities are as under:
- Exclusive child care from 06 months to 06 years for the babies of Garment workers.
- Non-stop child care services by seven (07) skilled Care Givers from 7.30 am to 5.00 pm except Govt. Holidays.
- providing balanced food four times daily with free of cost.
- A skilled teacher for Pre-schooling.
- Availability of Quality Health Care Services with free medicine by a Registered Qualified Medical Officer and a Nurse.
- keeping well decorated and cheerful environment for the babies with Television, toys and other learning devices.
- Ensuring uncompromised safety and security.
Over the next years, BKMEA aims to provide women workers with fortified foods and many of their under-five children with micronutrient supplements. The project will offer guidance to factory management to support breastfeeding and to upgrade and improve day-care centers and the women will be trained by experienced health workers on appropriate infant and young child feeding practices, as well as sexual and reproductive health. Malnutrition is one of the greatest global health challenges and Bangladesh has some of the highest rates in the world. There is an urgent need to address the intergenerational cycle that prevents mothers and their children in Bangladesh from enjoying a healthy life.
BKMEA is highly motivated to address the problems of the working mothers of the knitwear industry with practical solutions. WE are also advocating to establish more day care centers on the factory premises.
So, BKMEA is rightfully committed to making the knitwear sector of Bangladesh a vibrant force of CSR programmes!