The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), a Swiss development organisation, has announced the launch of a new initiative in Bangladeshi ready-made garment (RMG) facilities that will provide workers with affordable meals, media reported.
Announced earlier this week at an event in Dhaka, GAIN told delegates – including representatives of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) – that the initiative will help upwards of 20,000 employees and their families, reaching around 80,000 people in total.
From the offset, food stations have been established in two garment factories in Ashulia and Gazipur that will serve local communities.
With the cost of essentials continuing to rise, RMG workers already on the bread line in Bangladesh are said to be struggling to provide for their families.
GAIN has vowed to support communities around Dhaka having recognized the vital role garment factory employees play in supporting the country’s economy. Bangladesh is the second largest apparel exporting nation globally.
According to the news site, representatives from GAIN, the Bangladesh National Nutrition Council and the BGMEA attended the ceremony in Dhaka to mark the initiative’s launch and collaborate on how best they can support workers.
When operational, site workers will have access to cheaper, more nutritious meals which they’ll be able to collect at their place of work.
Speakers at the ceremony alluded to the importance of supporting workers and their role in helping the nation achieve its sustainability ambitions, such as aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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