Experts: Safe, accessible work environment vital to increase participation

It is necessary to ensure a safe and accessible working environment in order to increase the participation of women and persons with disabilities in the retail sector, experts and business executives said at a roundtable on Tuesday. 

Syed Nasim Manzur Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Chief guest at the roundtable Syed Nasim Manzur, managing director and co-founder of Apex Footwear Ltd, said: “From a business perspective, empowering women in the workplace is necessary not just because it's the right thing to do, but also because it's the smart thing to do. More than 50% of our graduates are women.”

The roundtable, titled “Perception Change and Inclusion in the Retail Sector,” was organized by BRAC skill development program with the aim of changing perceptions in society and current hiring practices of the retail sector to encourage more potential employees to undertake retail sales as a career and ensure the inclusion of women and people with disabilities.

 

MD Rubaiyath Sarwar Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

The session was moderated by Rubaiyath Sarwar, managing director of Innovision Consulting Ltd. 

The speakers emphasized expanding training facilities to help build a more robust workforce for the fast-growing retail sector in Bangladesh, which, according to stakeholders, has huge potential for generating more job opportunities for the most disadvantaged groups in society. 

The retail sector employs over 6 million people across the country. However, there is a massive skill gap that exists in this sector. 

According to a study conducted by Brac, at least 68.5% of the employees don't have the capacity to meet sales targets. There is a lack of product knowledge among 64% of new retail sales staff, said Mohammad Sadique Hasan, a program manager at BRAC skill development program, in his keynote speech at the beginning of the session. 

Perception of retail workers

M Hassan Aupo Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

M Hassan Aupo, head of operations at Artisan, said: “Consumers tend to see salespersons as their opponents. There is also a lack of belief between these two parties. We need to address the lack of respect for retail workers in society, or it will be difficult to motivate people to undertake retail sales as a career,” he said. 

Shah Adeeb Chowdhury Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Jaker Abdullah, human resource manager at Miniso, said the negative perceptions around taking retail sales as a career is gradually changing. 

“In recent times, students are increasingly choosing retail brands as a part-time employment opportunity instead of providing tuition, which previously was a more desirable option for them to earn money while studying,” he said.  

Safe and healthy working environment for women

The speakers at the roundtable also stressed the importance of creating a safer and healthier working environment to attract female workers to the retail sector. 

Ashraful Alam Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Ashraful Alam, Aarong's Chief Operating Officer, said: “We provide a very safe and flexible working environment (shift-based and with reduced working hours) at our outlets which, in turn, allows students and fresh graduates to apply as sales associates.”

“For female sales associates, we provide paid maternity leave for up to six months. They can also avail an additional six months of unpaid leave.”

“Aarong provides a safe working environment free from all sorts of sexual harassment, workplace bullying, incrimination, and intimidation,” he added. 

Kazi Jamil Islam Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

According to Kazi Jamil Islam, managing director at Express Leather Products Ltd (Lotto), People are facing fewer obstacles than before when undertaking retail sales as career, but women are still at a disadvantageous position due to family constraints.

“What we can do is offer them reduced working hours as well as additional benefits, so that women can continue to work despite family constraints.”

Mohammad Khalid Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Meanwhile, Mohammad Khalid, human resources lead at Apex Footwear Ltd, said it is necessary for retail brands to believe in inclusion and the values it adds into the business, instead of just promoting it as part of corporate social responsibility.  

Disability inclusion

Aziza Ahmed Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Aziza Ahmed, the head of operations at Bangladesh Business and Disability Network (BBDN), said it is important to understand disabilities and how disability inclusion actually works. 

“We cannot pick and choose any profession or activity for people with disabilities without consulting them. It is for the person to decide based on their capacity, capability, skills, and willingness to work,” Aziza added. 

“Our approach (to disability inclusion) should be more rights-based rather than a CSR approach,” she said. 

Tasmiah Tabassum Rahman Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

She urged business associations to champion inclusion by working to create more inclusive workplaces throughout Bangladesh.

Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Among others, Safi Rahman Khan, the director of BRAC's Education, Skills Development Program, and Migration and Tasmiah Tabassum Rahman the associate director of BRAC Skills Development Program were also present at the roundtable.