Members of Garment Labour Union (GLU) and Karnataka Garment Workers Union (KGWU) spoke about the experiences of women workers related to crèche services in factories. Workers are dissatisfied with all aspects of the crèche facilities provided by the factories. Very few factories have functional crèches. There are not enough caretakers at the crèches and the space available also is often unsuitable and insufficient. Even in the case of the few factories that have crèches, they do not admit children above 3.5 years of age.

Cividep-India shared some highlights of its draft research report on crèche facilities in garment factories which reiterated the need for functional crèches in factories. This study interviewed 300 garment workers from 60 factories, in the age group of 20-30 years with at least one child below six years of age. It was found that only 25% of the garment workers’ children interviewed were attending either factory crèches or private crèches. The rest were either with their grandparents in their native village, at home alone, or left under the care of neighbors, pointing to a huge gap in safe child care for the workers’ children.

Workers were unanimous in their opinion that good crèche facilities would enable them to concentrate better at work, help save them money that was currently being spent on alternative child care arrangements, and would improve punctuality. They also said that the provision of such useful services would positively change their perception of their employers.

The consultation concluded with a multi-stakeholder working group being formed to continue the dialogue and to take definitive actions to address the issue of adequate child care facilities, both within the legal requirements and that of social responsibility.

Organizers

Fair Labor Association • Samvada • Cividep-India • Karnataka State Commission for the
Protection of Child Rights