Frontline workers in labor-intensive industries face many barriers, like language differences, issues of confidentiality, asymmetrical gender, and other structural power dynamics, due to which they may not feel comfortable sharing their experiences or concerns with supervisors or firm management.
Through research at Good Business Lab, we have gathered that enabling worker voice in such industries decreases the likelihood of fear, disconnection, and harassment on the shop floor. So, how do we support workers and management to communicate better? Can technology bridge this communication gap?
GBL organized a panel discussion to bring together representatives from the private sector, research communities, and civil society and collectively discuss the importance of investing in two-way communication channels that can improve the wellbeing and productivity of frontline workers in global supply chains.
The event took place on 31st Jan, 4:30 PM at Alliance Française de Bangalore.
Alongside the panel discussion, the event featured:
- An exclusive showcase of GBL’s upcoming two-way communication tool, Inache.
- An opportunity to attend GBL’s first-ever Experience Center, Shades of Blue which attempts to represent the complex lives of India’s blue-collar workforce.
- A high tea alongside exciting cross-sector networking opportunities
Panelists
Chitra Ramdas
Chitra is the General Manager of Organizational Development at Shahi Exports, India’s largest apparel manufacturer, employing over 100,000 people, 70% of whom are women. She has over 18 years of experience in Human Resource Management in the apparel industry.
Pankhuri Shah
Pankhuri joined Dasra after over half a decade of consulting at a tax and accounting firm (BDO India). At Dasra, she has provided capacity-building support to NGOs across sectors like rural development and employability, to name a few.
Suhasini Singh
Suhasini Singh has been working for Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) since 2013 and is currently the Regional Coordinator for South Asia and Indonesia. FWF is an independent multi-stakeholder organization that works with garment brands, garment workers, and industry influencers to improve labor conditions in garment factories.
Tejas Sampat
Tejas is a Sustainability, Corporate Responsibility and Supply Chain professional with over 20 years experience with major international brands such as Nike, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, emanating from a background with top global Textile and Apparel manufacturers and exporters.
Varun Jagannath
Varun is the Associate Director – Field at Good Business Lab. He oversees the implementation of research projects in Bangalore. His areas of interest include subaltern studies, cultural ecology, community development, and rural and tribal spaces.
Moderator
Eshika Gombar
Eshika Gombar joined Good Business Lab in 2020 and is currently the Partnerships Manager at the organization. She engages with private sector companies, foundations, and civil society organizations on worker wellbeing, with a special focus on worker voice, living wages, and soft skills development.
Listen to the full discussion below:
If questions still linger, drop us an email at info@goodbusinesslab.org.
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