All programs are run out of the union offices in three key locations around Dhaka. Enrollment is currently 250 students, many of whom had been let go in response to buyer complaints about the exploitation of child labor. Formerly, it was not uncommon for child workers some as young as eight years old to work up to 12 hours per day or longer, earning the equivalent of 10 U.S. dollars per month. In addition to providing education, the schools offer children a hot meal each day to reduce the financial hardship that their families may incur from losing the child s income. Students are also given health care and medicines at a nominal cost.
Many workers lack the basic literacy skills to read their attendance and time cards.
Recognizing that garment workers need basic literacy skills to learn and understand their rights and to communicate and negotiate effectively with their employers, BIGU offers literacy classes to adult garment workers. Enrollment is currently 267 students. The BIGU clinics mandate is to provide low-cost, quality health care to garment workers and their families. The clinics accommodate the schedules of the garment workers, offering evening hours. To date, almost 1,000 workers have enrolled in the health care program and clinics have served more than 1,600 patients.