Strategy Two To stimulate awareness in matters related to health, nutrition, occupational safety, quality and productivity through information, education and training action
A three-day residential seminar is organised every year for shopfloor female leaders to sensitize them on the impact of industrialisation and on the necessity for workers to tune themselves to the new patterns of living generated by industrialisation. The focus of the seminar is on the family, socio-economic and legal status of women, occupational health and safety, nutrition, pimary health care, personal dynamics, industrialisation and welfare. Some 150 shopfloor leaders from some 75 enterprises have to this date been reached by the sensitization programme. During the plan period (July 1997 - June 2002), some 250 additional shopfloor workers selected cross-regionally will be the main target for further sensitization on priority issues related to the changing patterns of industrial life. A core group will also be constituted for the design and implementation of a Training of Trainers (TOT) course on industrialisation and welfare adapted to the exigencies of the industrial culture. Non-residential seminars, focus group discussions, talks radio and television programmes will be designed to intensify the sensitization action on the A,B,C of theme - specific priorities of the day.
One strategy which yielded handsome dividents at the Fund has been the strenthening of welfare action to sustain both quality and productivity improvement efforts. Boosting quality and productivity in the enterprise requires a many pronged strategy drive which has as major direction an IET (Information, Education and Training) stimulation. The EPZ Labour Welfare Fund joined the National Quality Movement in 1994 when it became a proactive pioneer of MEPZA's NQA. This commitment acquired an added dimension in 1996 when the Fund participated in the 50th World Quality Congress in Chicago and the 7th Qualtex in New Delhi in February 1997. During the same year, in an effort to strengthen the capability of staff to think and act qualitatively at work, the Fund embarked in an Excellence Programme so as to reduce process time and upgrade efficiency. Furthermore the Task Force on EPZ competitiveness lately recommended that the Fund team up with the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations and MEPZA in view of sustaining and maintaining IET campaigns in matters related to quality and productivity, protection of the environment, and workers' education. During the plan period (July 1997 - June 2002) the Fund will continue to support the quality movement so that the EPZ sector "goes total quality and internally/externally customer focussed."
A magazine entitled "News and Views" was designed and printed during the previous plan period by the Fund for better dissemination of information on its activities. In 1998, the Fund celebrated 10 years of history. A series of visual and promotional materials were designed, printed and distributed for grassroot dissemination. A half-yearly gazette will further be issued and its circulation will be maintained at regular intervals during the plan period (July 1997 - June 2002). The end-of-year desk calendar will be distributed to all EPZ firms along with stickers on productivity and welfare.
A telephone hotline or an EPZ link in connection with the calendar of activities of the Fund will be put at the disposal of enterprises and workers. A project aiming at putting at the disposal of beneficiaries a tollfree number for enquiry will further be examined during the 1998-1999 financial year.
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