QIP

Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector employs more than 3.5 million workers, contributing 82% of the total export income. Nutrition plays a vital role in improving the well-being and productivity of workers. This translates into economic growth as well as greater motivation for the workers. According to the study by the International Labour Office (ILO), inadequate nourishment can cut productivity by up to 20%. In Bangladesh, 43% of the female garment workers are chronically malnourished. It is explicit that inadequate, poor-quality diet and hygiene practices can lead to malnutrition, diseases, and lower work performance. GAIN implements a workforce nutrition project named “Strengthening Workers’ Access to Pertinent Nutrition Opportunities (SWAPNO)” in partnership with VF Corporation. It aims to contribute to a healthier and more productive workforce by improving the diet for garment workers and improving knowledge around nutritious and safe foods for themselves. Project reach is around 25,000 workers and requires coordinated work of various partners and factory management. The objective of the project will be achieved through two sets of interrelated and reinforcing outputs: i) RMG workers in VF supported factories have improved knowledge around nutritious and safe foods for themselves, and ii) RMG workers in the VF supported factories have improved access to nutritious and safe foods either through improved lunches or through fair price shops which offer nutritious and safe foods. GAIN experienced that improved meal intervention is feasible in the sector that can be scaled up, in addition, to doing advocacy and effective communication at policy and factory levels. Based on the factories existing budget, price constraints, and addressing nutritional needs of RMG workers during their working hours and worker’s choice (desirability) GAIN has developed multiple food menu options for mid-day meals. After Consuming a modified mid-day meal to get a response from workers GAIN set up a kiosks machine whereby pressing an electronic smiley or sad face button workers can access easily to provide their feedback which is called in easy term mood meter.