Femnet e.V.

Corporate Responsibility (CSR) & Supply Chain Act

Legal aid app for workers in the garment sector

Garment workers in Bangladesh are often confronted with enormous labor rights violations. Although the working situation improved slightly following the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013, violations of labor law are still part of everyday life for most workers. Grievance mechanisms do not work or are not even available. Therefore, in July 2023, FEMNET launched a three-year project to develop a legal aid app for workers in the garment sector together with the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Service Trust (BLAST).

Although factories are generally required to have grievance and redress mechanisms in place, only about 4% of factories provide their workers with a grievance mechanism. At the same time, workers often lack sufficient knowledge about their own rights. This particularly affects women. According to a FEMNET study, 81% of female employees know neither their rights nor the corresponding legal remedies.

Two mobile phones with the new app. © BLAST

The Sromik Jigaysha (“Workers Queries”) app aims to simplify access to information and legal assistance for workers. Sromik Jigaysha is aimed at garment workers, especially readymade garment workers, members of self-help groups and trade unions from four districts: the Fotulla and Cashara factory area in Narayanganj, the Jatrabari factory area in Dhaka, the Shagorika factory area in Chittagong, and the Konabari factory area in Gazipur. The app offers those affected an anonymous and comparatively simple way to submit their complaints.

A comparable app that is tailored to the needs of workers and supports them in claiming their labor rights does not yet exist.

The app provides easy and low-threshold access to information on labor and human rights. It also offers a complaints channel that can be accessed via a messenger service or email, for example. Workers can also contact BLAST directly for legal help and advice. In this way, the legal system is to be made accessible to marginalized and discriminated people.

 

According to BLAST, over 80% of workers have access to a smartphone, so around 5,000 people are expected to benefit from the project. As part of the WEARS project, which aimed to empower workers and trade unions in the RMG sector, workers were reached through awareness-raising events and training within self-help groups in some districts. 16 new self-help groups were established and numerous unions received training on how to use the app. Furthermore, a closed group was established on Facebook via social media, targeting workers from Gazipur and Chittagong, but also from Ashulia.

Nevertheless, there is still a need to improve the design and operation of the app. Cooperation with trade unions and self-help groups should also be further expanded. For example, self-help groups and trade unions could act as multipliers, network with each other and/or be involved in the development of the app. These points will be addressed in the further course of the project.

Advertisement poster for the new app. © FEMNETOur goals

Establishment of grievance mechanisms: With the Sromik Jigaysha app, the project aims to establish an effective and simple grievance mechanism. The app is intended to simplify access to information and legal assistance for workers.
Trainings: Trade unions and self-help groups are to be trained in how to use the app so that they can be used as multipliers. They should also be more closely involved in the further development of the app.

Trade unions and participation: Trade unions can act as multipliers in this context and thus encourage those affected to actively participate.