- The training on Advocacy and Bargaining Skills for BSPAN Members, held on August 25, 2024, in Dhaka, was a significant initiative aimed at strengthening the advocacy, negotiation, and leadership capabilities of trade union leaders and stakeholders. Organized by the Bangladesh Social Protection Advocacy Network (BSPAN) with support from WSM and facilitated by the OSHE Foundation, the program sought to empower participants in advocating for social protection and workers’ rights.The training focused on key objectives such as enhancing advocacy skills for effective representation, developing advanced negotiation techniques for wages, benefits, and working conditions, equipping leaders with legal knowledge to engage with policymakers, and strengthening leadership and trust-building among trade union leaders to support sustainable organizational growth. A total of 26 participants, including 13 women, attended the event, representing diverse areas of Dhaka.
The program comprised several sessions addressing different aspects of advocacy and bargaining. The session on advocacy skills, led by S M Morshed, emphasized the definition, tools, and strategies of advocacy, including the importance of setting SMART goals and continuous monitoring. Md Alam Hossain facilitated the session on collective bargaining, which covered principles, relevant ILO conventions, negotiation strategies, and employer response tactics. Tahsin Tabassum led the session on communication, underscoring the role of effective communication in social protection, exploring verbal and non-verbal techniques, and introducing government helplines as essential tools. A group activity involving a drama about the struggles of a vulnerable family highlighted the practical application of the skills learned.
The training successfully met its objectives, equipping BSPAN members with advanced advocacy and bargaining skills, enhancing their leadership abilities, and deepening their understanding of legal frameworks. The interactive sessions and practical exercises ensured that participants could apply these competencies in real-world scenarios. This initiative marked a crucial step in empowering trade union leaders to advocate for and negotiate on behalf of their members, contributing to the broader goal of promoting universal social protection in Bangladesh.
