ETI Bangladesh Amplifies Efforts for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment on International Women’s Day 2025

March 24, 2025,1:27 pm

International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated globally on March 8, holds particular significance for Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector, where women constitute the majority of the workforce. This year, ETI Bangladesh marked the occasion with a series of initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality, empowering women, and fostering a more inclusive and equitable workplace environment.

Webinar: Planning for Progress

In preparation for International Women’s Day 2025, ETI Bangladesh, in collaboration with the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF), organized a webinar on March 2, 2025. The event, attended by 243 participants from 80 RMG factories, cantered on the theme: “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”

The webinar served as a platform to reflect on past achievements, share best practices, and outline factory-level plans for celebrating IWD 2025.

Participants actively shared their experiences and strategies for celebrating International Women’s Day. Factories outlined plans to organize rallies, cultural programs, video screenings, and award ceremonies to honour outstanding women workers. Many also emphasized initiatives aimed at promoting more women into supervisory and managerial roles, fostering a more inclusive organizational culture.

Factory Visits: Celebrating Women’s Contributions

ETI Bangladesh team visited multiple RMG factories to participate in their International Women’s Day celebrations. These visits provided an opportunity to engage directly with workers, management, and Sexual Harassment Complaint Committees (SHCCs), reinforcing the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace. Factory activities included, opening ceremony with symbolic gas balloon release, general discussions and meetings with committees, a poster exhibition, video screenings on women’s achievements, and awareness sessions. Rally featuring placards, seminar on workplace rights and leadership, and motivational videos showcasing female leaders were held, alongside story-sharing sessions by women in leadership roles. Throughout the day, awareness music played, posters were displayed, and worker recognition awards were given for attendance, quality production, and output. Special gifts, theme head caps, and T-shirts were distributed, while banners and keynotes highlighted the significance of the day. The celebrations concluded with a PA system announcement about the theme and history of International Women’s Day.

Human Chain: A Call to Action

As part of the International Women’s Day 2025 observance, ETI Bangladesh joined the Human Chain organized by the Gender Platform on March 8, 2025, in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka. The event served as a call to action for gender equality, women’s empowerment, and justice for in Bangladesh.

The human chain brought attention to critical issues such as workplace harassment, violence against women, and the urgent need for stronger legal frameworks to safeguard women’s rights. It also underscored the importance of effectively implementing the Harassment Prevention Guidelines and fostering a safe, inclusive environment for women in all aspects of life.

Poster Campaign and Social Media Advocacy

ETI Bangladesh developed posters with messages promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. These posters were displayed in factories, reaching a wide audience of workers and management. Additionally, ETI Bangladesh utilized its LinkedIn page and website to communicate the messages of International Women’s Day to a broader audience, amplifying the call for systemic changes that support women’s rights.

Looking Ahead: Sustaining the Momentum

The celebration of International Women’s Day 2025 by ETI Bangladesh was not just a one-day event but part of a broader, ongoing effort to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the RMG sector. ETI Bangladesh remains committed to working with factories, brands, trade unions, and other stakeholders to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace environment where women can thrive.

As we reflect on the progress made and the challenges that remain, ETI Bangladesh reaffirms its dedication to advancing women’s rights and empowerment. By fostering a culture of equality and inclusion, we not only enhance the lives of women but also strengthen the RMG industry and contribute to the broader economic development of Bangladesh.