Nazma Akter, founder and executive director of Awaj Foundation, has been a relentless advocate for workers' rights in Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) sector for over three decades.
Her journey, which began as a child labourer, has transformed her into one of the most prominent labor rights activists in the country.
Nazma started working in the garment industry at the age of 11, alongside her mother who was also a garment worker.
"When I started working at the RMG factory, I was a child laborer," Nazma recalled. "Despite being a minor, they made me work full time, and I had to do all the work that other senior workers used to do. I couldn't be a child."
Beginning her career as a helper and later becoming a machine operator, young Nazma faced harsh working conditions.
"Despite working all these hours, I did not get paid on time, and sometimes they did not give me the money for overtime duty."
Her monthly salary was only Tk250, with an additional Tk100 for overtime work back in the early 90s.
"My parents used to work too. Their earnings were spent on house rent and groceries, while mine was used for additional expenses like soap and oil," Nazma explained.
Standing up against injustice
At just 12 years old, Nazma was fired from her job for protesting against workplace injustices. "When I protested about the injustice we endured, they put me on the blacklist, and no factory would allow me to work," she says.
The retaliation did not stop there. "My previous factory owner had local goons. They spread lies and rumors about me. They tried to assassinate my character, spreading rumors that I had character issues, which is why I got fired. When I walked through the road, people would stare at me and think that my character was not good."
Verbal abuse at the workplace was common. "We endured verbal abuse at the office. They used slang about our fathers and mothers, and they tried to beat me up. I protested this incident as well," Nazma said firmly.
The birth of a movement
Witnessing the persistent problems and abuses at factories, Nazma decided to fight for workers' rights. She joined various trade unions, participating in workers' rallies and protests throughout the 90s.
"We approached political leaders, but nothing worked," she recounted. This led to the formation of her own organization - Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation (SGSF).
However, the path was not easy for a woman labour leader. Women workers who supported labour rights faced severe consequences. "There was a woman leader at our factory. We called her Maya apa. After protesting, they beat her inside the factory and tore her clothes. She faced this abuse because she supported the workers," Nazma remembered.
Facing gender-based discrimination against women labour leaders, Nazma established the Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation (SGSF), which now boasts a membership of over 70,000 women garment workers.
Changes in the industry
Through persistent effort, Nazma has witnessed significant changes in the industry, particularly regarding maternity benefits.
"Back then, obtaining casual leaves was very much impossible. They would give maternity leave but no pay. Women had to return to work right after giving birth," she says.
She notes the improvements: "Now, pregnant women are given maternity leave, and they can go home after 5pm, and they are assigned lighter work. But back then, pregnant women were made to meet production targets just like everyone else."
Female leadership in RMG sector
The garment industry in Bangladesh has a significant issue: while women make up most of the workforce, they are rarely seen in leadership roles. A study from Ethical Trade Norway shows that only 5% of supervisors are women, which is only a 1% increase recently. The percentage of female managers has actually dropped from 9% to 5%.
Women who manage to get leadership positions face more challenges at work. Male subordinates often undermine their authority, and female coworkers can be resentful. This unpleasant and hostile environment discourages many women from staying in leadership roles or seeking promotions.
Family duties and social expectations often hold women back from advancing in their careers. Leadership roles usually require longer hours, making it hard for women to balance work and home responsibilities.
Concerns about safety, especially when traveling home from factories in remote areas at night, add to these challenges. Because of this, families often discourage women from pursuing leadership positions.
Continuing the fight
Today, Nazma Akter serves as the President of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, one of the largest union federations in Bangladesh, and co-chair of Asia Pacific Women's Committee of IndustriALL Global Union.
Through the Awaj Foundation, she continues to fight for improved working conditions, fair wages, and dignity for workers in Bangladesh's garment sector, especially women workers.
Nazma's journey from a child laborer to a respected labour rights activist stands as a powerful testament to resilience and the ongoing struggle for workers' rights in Bangladesh's garment industry.