RAJSHAHI, April 26, 2023 (BSS)-Integrated efforts of all the government and non-government entities concerned can be the best way of protecting the legitimate rights of the domestic workers.

In the present social context, many of the solvent families, even some of the low-incoming ones, are seen dependent on the household workers. So, right-protection of domestic workers has become an urgent need.

Present government has formulated the 'Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy, 2015' with the main thrust of ensuring protection and welfare of all the household workers.

Government officials and development activists came up with the observation while addressing an advocacy meeting titled "Empowerment of Domestic Workers" here today.

On behalf of its "Strengthen Women's Movement for Increased Participation of Women Working at Informal Occupations in Rajshahi'' project, Association for Community Development (ACD) organized the meeting at its office conference hall in Rajshahi city.

Deputy Director of the Department of Social Services Hasina Momtaz and Assistant Director of Women Assistance Programme Mahbuba Sultana addressed the meeting as chief and special guests respectively with Councilor of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Towhidul Haque Sumon in the chair.

ACD has been implementing the project under "Empowering Women through Civil Society Actors in Bangladesh (EWCSA)' supported by OXFAM in Bangladesh co-funded by the European Union.

Around 400 domestic female workers are getting capacity building support in terms of ensuring their legitimate rights through empowerment with the project interventions.

Initiative has also been taken to bring them under awareness and orientation programmes related to their human rights and gender based discrimination, violence and sexual exploitation they face in their workplace.
 
The 15-month project is being implemented in Ward Numbers 18, 19, 24 and 28 in RCC for empowering marginalized women working in informal occupations and strengthening public institutions to ensure responsiveness towards gender concerns.

ACD Project Coordinator Monirul Islam gave an overview of the project along with its aims, objectives and implementation strategy, while ACD Executive Director Salima Sarwar welcomed the participants.

As a whole, the project will sensitize the community to promote increased participation of women working in informal occupations through community radio.