Sun Aug 31 16:28:35 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**Bengaluru Garment Workers Rally for Safe Workplaces and Equal Rights**

**Bengaluru, August 31, 2025** – Over 350 garment workers, predominantly women, convened at the Kondajji Basappa Auditorium in Bengaluru on Sunday to address critical issues surrounding workplace safety, gender equality, and dignity in the garment industry. The event, titled ‘Safe Workplaces, Equal Voices,’ was organized by Cividep India, in collaboration with Munnade, Sadhana Trust, Samruddi Trust, and the Karnataka State Garment and Textile Workers Union (KSG & TWU).

The initiative aimed to empower workers with knowledge of their rights, fostering a collective voice to demand better working conditions. Deepika Rao, Executive Director of Cividep India, highlighted the severe health challenges faced by women workers, often forcing them into early retirement due to exhaustion from grueling conditions. She emphasized the lack of retirement provisions, pushing many into further labor in domestic settings.

M. S. Asha Devi, a feminist critic and professor at Maharani Cluster University, emphasized the exploitation prevalent in the industry, citing the absence of basic amenities and denial of fundamental rights such as Provident Fund (PF) and overtime pay. The initiative seeks to establish a body to challenge these practices.

Nagalakshmi Chowdhary, chairperson of the Karnataka State Women’s Commission, lamented the lack of awareness among workers regarding available resources, such as the Prayojakatva Yojana, a monthly allowance for single mothers. She recounted witnessing poor working conditions, including the absence of seating, during a factory visit, leading to an attempt to provide resources like orthopaedic shoes.

While acknowledging that issues like factory deaths and sexual harassment persist, Rao noted a shift towards holding responsible parties accountable. Bhagya, a garment worker, highlighted improvements in the working environment but emphasized the continued presence of verbal abuse and the intense pressure to meet production targets.

The gathering underscored the urgent need for increased intervention from both the state government and industry stakeholders to ensure safer and more dignified workplaces for garment workers. The call for action resonates as workers and grassroots leaders continue their fight for improved conditions.

Read More