Odhikar – Awareness Drive for Obtaining Valid NID card for RMG Workers

The proposed project aims to improve access to valid National Identity (NID) cards among Ready-Made Garment (RMG) workers in Bangladesh, enabling them to access social security benefits such as the Employment Injury Scheme (EIS). The initiative targets 100,000 workers across key industrial zones in Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Chattogram, with implementation led by local NGO partners who have strong community presence and sector-specific experience.

To address existing barriers to NID registration and correction, the project will establish three worker support centers in major worker hubs. These centres will be equipped with necessary digital tools and staffed by trained facilitators who will assist workers in completing applications, compiling required documents, and connecting them with local government representatives and Election Commission offices. The centres will also serve as spaces for continuous learning and engagement.

Awareness raising is a core component of the project. Orientation sessions at the centres and small community gatherings will build workers’ understanding of the importance of valid NIDs and the procedures involved. To expand outreach, temporary information booths will be set up regularly in worker communities, while digital platforms, including a dedicated Facebook page, will disseminate information to a wider audience.

The project will further use street drama and IEC materials such as posters, brochures, and videos to communicate key messages in accessible and engaging ways. In parallel, advocacy meetings with local government actors will be conducted to strengthen coordination and responsiveness in NID service delivery.

The initiative prioritizes workers without NIDs, those with incorrect information, their families, and new entrants to the sector, while also engaging factory management to support worker registration efforts. Overall, the project aims to remove systemic and practical barriers, ensuring workers are better integrated into formal systems and able to access essential services and protections.

Total Reach in 2025: 48,105

Project Key Outputs

The project establishes 03 fully functional Worker Support Centres (Sramik Sheba Kendras) in key industrial zones, providing ongoing assistance with NID application, correction, verification, and documentation. It conducts 268 interactive orientation sessions to strengthen workers’ understanding of NID importance, processes, and available services, alongside 50 small community gatherings that raise awareness of how NID links to social protection and essential services.

To expand access, 70 temporary booths offer hands-on guidance and connect workers with local government representatives and Election Commission offices. In parallel, 16 street dramas deliver engaging messages on the value of valid NID ownership. The project also holds 18 advocacy meetings with the Election Commission and local authorities to improve coordination and responsiveness in service delivery.

Factory engagement remains central, with 05 orientation sessions reaching 100 management representatives across Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur (Tongi), and Chattogram, strengthening their role in supporting workers’ NID registration. The project concludes with a national dialogue, bringing together key stakeholders to reinforce coordinated, multi-stakeholder commitment to ensuring workers’ access to NID services.