One Day Training

PROGRAM SUMMARY:
The participants were mainly home based workers engaged in embroidery, cap and Incense sticks making. There were few textile and hosiery factory workers too. Most of them were non member and intended to join the Hosiery Garment Textile Workers’ General Union. The objectives of the workshop were to give them confidence regarding unionization, provide them a platform, where they can share their Issues and experiences, introduce them with national and international labour laws and discuss issue of sexual harassment.
Following sessions were conducted: identification & investigation of Issues, unionization & benefits, health & safety and anti sexual harassment bill. The workshop was comprised of lecture and question answerer session.
Feed Back
Most of the participants were new and it was their first exposure to any workshop. According to feed back received from the participants; some of them had doubts that PILER has some political background and intentions. It was clear to them that PILER is a non political organization working for the education and rights of labour. Generally the level of hope was very low. Most of them presupposed that if they talk to middle man for piece rate increment they will lose the work and they will starve to death. It was told that they are big in number if they unit and refuse to take work on previous rates, he/she will eventually revise the rates.
Generally the participation level was quite low; no activity could be done and trainer spoke most of the time. At the end as a result of discussion on benefits of unionization most of them were agreed to join Hosiery Garment Textile Workers’ General Union to protect their rights.
Report Compiled by
Beenish Zia