Menstrual Hygiene Management
| Project Name | “Menstrual Hygiene Management ” (MHM) |
| Project Duration | From 2017 to till now |
| Funding organization | General Fund |
| Development Organization | Phulki |
| Project Goal | Promote sustainable improvements in the health of garment workers by ensuring the availability and accessibility of SRHR commodities. |
| Project Purpose | Awareness of reproductive health and hygiene may lead to improved health and behavioral practices among workers. These improvements can result in greater motivation and attentiveness at work. Reduced absenteeism and error rates can, in turn, enhance factory productivity, ultimately contributing to increased profitability |
| Project Output | A positive impact was immediately observed in the form of reduced absenteeism, improved personal hygiene, a more proactive attitude toward family planning and safe spacing, and an increased use of contraceptives, among other benefits. |
| Project working areas | Ashulia, Baro Rangamatia,BKSP, Kolma, Savar, Sreepur, Tongi, Kasimpur, Gazipur Sadar , Kona Bari, Rajnagor, Gazipur, Godnail, Kachnpur, Madanpur, Narayanganj |
| Beneficiary/ Stakeholder |
RMG workers and Management |
| Short description | When a worker is absent due to SRHR-related issues, she not only loses a day’s wage but also has to spend out-of-pocket for medicine and other necessary items. This double burden reduces her overall income and productivity, ultimately undermining her sense of empowerment.
At the same time, factories face significant losses when workers are absent due to SRHR challenges. A recent study revealed that 95% of female garment workers use dirty rags or discarded fabric during menstruation, and 20% remain absent due to illnesses related to poor menstrual hygiene. The estimated economic loss from such absenteeism is around $2.5 million annually, demonstrating that workers’ sexual and reproductive health has direct economic consequences for the industry. In 2015, Phulki conducted a Return on Investment (ROI) study that highlighted the positive outcomes of investing in SRHR awareness. The findings showed: Increased knowledge of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Significant changes in attitudes among both workers and management Improvements in personal hygiene and service-seeking behavior According to the study, when a factory invests BDT 1 in SRHR programs, it stands to gain a return of BDT 13. The improvements in reproductive health and hygiene contributed to: Better health and behavioral practices among workers Increased motivation and attentiveness on the job Reduced absenteeism and error rates Ultimately, higher productivity and profitability for the factory These findings should encourage garment factories—and manufacturers more broadly—to make small but impactful investments in worker well-being. Beyond absenteeism, there are other consequences too. Loss of manpower hours, risk of delayed shipments, and potential disruptions to buyer consignments all threaten productivity. Despite this, many factory managers still see investment in workers’ SRHR as merely a CSR or compliance activity. Consequently, investments are often limited and fail to address deeper, systemic issues—especially in the context of prevailing cultural norms. Because of social stigma and lack of awareness, topics like menstrual health and reproductive care remain unaddressed unless there’s a visible emergency. In practice, these matters are often overlooked. Workers themselves are hesitant to discuss sexual and reproductive health in detail, leading to: Poor menstrual management Low use of family planning methods Inadequate access to antenatal and postnatal care Increased vulnerability to sexual harassment All of this stems from a lack of information and awareness about SRHR. Sexual and reproductive health significantly influences overall health and well-being. Therefore, it is essential to approach SRHR holistically, addressing everything from menstrual regulation (MR), family planning, menstrual hygiene, and antenatal care to gender-based violence. These should all be integrated under the umbrella of reproductive health services in the garment industry—not only to uplift workers’ lives but also to enhance the sustainability and profitability of the factories themselves. |