We need to look back at pandemic lockdowns

New Report Examines Persistent Mental Health Challenges Children of Garment Workers Face?in Its Aftermath

Four years ago, in March 2020, COVID-19 lockdowns shuttered schools and lives across India. While the immediate crisis may have eased, its ripple effects continue to be felt, particularly by vulnerable groups such as children from low-wage families.

A recent Cividep report, 'Troubled Mindscapes: Studying The Mental Health of Adolescent Girls In Garment Worker Households Amid The Covid-19 Pandemic ’,?authored by Rajalakshmi RamPrakash , sheds light on the long-term consequences for children. As garment workers?faced layoffs and non-payment of wages, the study sought to understand its impact on their families, particularly their adolescent daughters. Many of these girls?(interviewed for the study)?were forced to drop out of schools, enter into low-wage jobs, or even forced into early marriages. One girl shared a sentiment echoed by many : "They say girls just need basic education to raise kids in another family, but boys lead the family, so they get to study. Sometimes I wish I was a boy."

This quote underscores the deep-rooted gendered expectations that limits the opportunities of these girls. Many who had aspired to break the cycle of poverty through education and employable skills lost their chance to do so out of the compulsion to support their families. The report seeks urgent action to support their mental well-being and help bridge the setbacks that they continue to face.? The report offers recommendations for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and civil society:

• Educational support programs:?Scholarships, bridge courses, and technology access to help girls re-enroll?
• Mental health services:?Accessible counseling centers and training for educators and parents to identify and address mental health needs of children
• Safety Nets For Workers & families: Apart from fair wages and better access to public health schemes, availability of crèches, daycare centres and afterschool programmes to alleviate burdens on adolescent girls?

Cividep @ OECD Forum on Due Dilligence

Cividep participated in two key side-sessions held at the recent OECD Forum on Due Diligence in Garment & Footwear Sector, held last month:?

Gender-Sensitive OSH: This session explored creating equitable workplaces, with Cividep Research Associate Kaveri M.T?joining civil society, workers, and factories to discuss integrating a gender lens into occupational safety and health (OSH) practices. It highlighted how collaboration is key to improving working conditions for all genders in the industry. It was organised by a Multi-Actor partnership group comprising FEMNET , SüDWIND e.V. ,Trade Union Rights Centre , and Cividep.?

Watch the recording here.

Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement: Experts discussed effective communication in human rights due diligence (HRDD) exercises by businesses.?Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement was a focus, as highlighted by Cividep Programmes Lead Pradeepan Ravi : "Who else can talk about workers' issues but workers themselves?" This belief fueled a recent Cividep study involving over 600 garment workers to develop a bottom-up HRDD framework (report to be published soon). This session was organised by the STITCH consortium comprisign Fair Wear Foundation , Ethical Trading Initiative , Mondiaal FNV , CDI Vietnam , CNV Internationaal , and Cividep.

Watch?the recording here .?

Field Diary

Solidarity Amidst Slowdown:?Homeworkers in Ambur (in pic above), Tamil Nadu’s leather goods hub, are facing a double challenge: a raging industry-wide slowdown threatening their livelihoods and declining wages due to fewer work orders and meager piece rates.? Despite these hardships, they are demonstrating?resilience and claiming their space at work and beyond. Read more. ?

Preying On Vulnerability:?Two women, lured by a higher-paying job offer shared on WhatsApp, faced a harrowing experience. Disguised as a contract agent, a woman invited them home to discuss a potential job opportunity with a prominent electronics factory in Sriperumbudur SEZ in Tamil Nadu. She then demanded money and refused to let them go. Thankfully, the women were able to escape with the support of Cividep’s local field team. Read the full account here .?

Updates

Alliance Building:?Cividep's Executive?Director Deepika Rao participated in the International Steering Committee meeting of the Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA) in Sri Lanka recently. Representatives from eight garment-producing countries discussed worker rights and coordinated efforts. AFWA is an alliance which works to promote?fair wages in South and Southeast Asia. Deepika's presence strengthens Cividep's role in the network, particularly in India. Cividep is also the CSO head for the AFWA National Committee in India. Discussions also touched on holding brands accountable, with AFWA highlighting the recent financial maneuvers by a major sportswear brand.?