'Workers' productivity may fall 20% due to malnutrition'

Garment workers, Bangladesh. Photo_by_Mona_Mijthab,_July_2011_Wikimedia Commons

Dhaka, June 7 – Many workers of different industries in Bangladesh are victims of malnutrition and their productivity rate is likely to fall up to 20% due to the condition.  
So, the workers' nutrition safety will have to be prioritised for the implementation of the government's Vision 2021 and 2041 and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Speakers said this at a partnership agreement signing ceremony between the Department of Labour and Switzerland-based Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in the capital Monday.
Moniruzzaman Bipul, portfolio lead of GAIN Bangladesh, said ensuring necessary nutrition for workers may increase their productivity rate up to 20%. "Only anaemia, caused by iron deficiency, is responsible for the reduction of productivity worth $500 crore in South Asia."
So, the Department of Labour and GAIN Bangladesh will jointly work to improve the nutritional status of workers as part of the SWAPNO project.
GAIN's SWAPNO project is working at 21 factories in Dhaka and Chattogram cities and the non-profit foundation has arranged training programmes on nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for 43,000 workers so far.
GAIN Bangladesh and the Department of Labour will carry out different activities for raising awareness among different stakeholders, working for improving nutrition and workforce, exchanging knowledge and information and ensuring professional health and protection.
They will jointly prepare a training manual, hold training for trainers, raise awareness campaigns and hold workshops among workers. - UNB