Women workers' rights in male dominated and female dominated garment factories : a case study in Nepal | |
| Author | Pandey, Binda |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-02-07 |
| Subject(s) | Women's rights--Nepal Women employees--Nepal |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. GD-02-07 |
| Abstract | Garment industry is one of major employment sector for women over the world, however it is still male dominated in Nepal, unlike most of the other countries. Though, garment industry is running for last two decades in Nepal, it has not been properly institutionalised, yet. Workers has been categorised into four categories, without any definite base. There are no set criteria for recruiting workers as well as promotion and training. Everything depends on management's desire. This culture does not suit in industrial organisation and it is needed to develop organisational culture in the sector with industrial perspective. Trade union could play equally vital role to change workplace culture as management. Almost half of the factories do not have union, yet. Among the factories having trade union also do not have much harmony with management and the relation looks still fragile and no· confidence on each other. It is created by culture. This study was conducted based on organizational culture in terms of digging out the gender problems in the sector, which being deep-rooted in patriarchal social culture and attitude towards women. Study has showed that women participation in workforce, trade union and management is not satisfactory, especially no women in top decision-making positions. One hand there is patriarchal culture rooted into feudal values and norm. On the other hand, men have occupied all the top position in decision-making. In this circumstance, of course the working environment is very much influenced with masculine culture. As the result, gender division of work and discrimination in promotion, training, wage and benefit is still continued. Gender issues such as maternity protection, family responsibility and sexual harassment are being neglected. Changing the existing culture, developing gender perspective among all three social partners and organising awareness raising activities among the working people both men an women, can give better result, which is yet, to develop in the sector. Working condition is very much in centre to achieve all these mentioned aspects, which directly affect physical, mental and psychology of working people. Factory premises should have basic facilities, which need for every human being. Tripartite and bipartite dialogue and cooperation is the best practice to make workplace gender friendly. If all the three partners could be accountable, responsible and confident each other with proper responsibility and rights, develop working culture based on humanity and social justice, could contribute to increase the size of benefit for all based on equality rather hanging over on tog-of-war to get bigger slice of small cake. Last, but of course not least, women representation from all social partners, should be guaranteed in all the process of the decision-making as well as its implementation in the practice and gender issues should be integrated as workplace agenda, to make sure achieving gender equality in the sector. |
| Year | 2002 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. GD-02-07 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Kusakabe, Kyoko; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Earth, Barbara;Soparth Pongquan; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Japan; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2002 |