IOM and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters
Association (BKMEA) this week launched a new corporate social
responsibility (CSR) initiative to re-train women survivors of
human trafficking for the job market.

The one-year pilot programme will offer 120 vulnerable women
selected from shelters run by the government and NGOs a one-month
training in knitwear manufacturing and a subsequent job placement
at a BKMEA-member knitwear factory.

The scheme, which IOM will implement in close cooperation with
BKMEA, the Ministry of Social Welfare and NGOs, aims to support,
empower and reintegrate survivors and potential victims of
trafficking into society through employment.

"This is a pioneering public-private partnership and corporate
social responsibility venture that we hope will lead to other,
similar initiatives to help trafficking victims," said IOM Regional
Representative for South Asia Rabab Fatima.

The first group of 14 women began their training at the BKMEA
training institute in Rangpur, in northern Bangladesh earlier this
month. In August they will start work at a knitwear factory owned
by BKMEA member Ever Smart Ltd.

For more information, please contact:

Asif Munier

E-mail: "mailto:amunier@iom.int">amunier@iom.int

or

Farhana Chowdhury

IOM Dhaka

Tel. +880.2.988.9765

E-mail: "mailto:fchowdhury@iom.int">fchowdhury@iom.int