Life of Garment Workers in Bangladesh: What can We Do?
Rana Ahammed
Department of Textile Engineering
Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Email: ronodiu26@gmail.com
Abstract:
This paper is an endeavor to depict the conditions and life of the garment workers from two perspectives. One is social perspective and the other is economic perspective. This study suggests that the standard of living of the garment workers is still in precarious condition and they are not free from the vicious circle of poverty and face extreme difficulties in obtaining their basic needs for survival even. This paper recommends measures for improving the prevailing socio-economic facilities, to a great extent, to achieve garment workers’ satisfaction at the maximum level.
Objectives of the Study:
The main objective of the study is to assess the socio-economic conditions and life of the garment workers. To achieve the main objective, the study also sets the following specific objectives:
- To identify the factors that affects the socio-economic conditions and lifstyle of the garment workers.
- To assess the social conditions as well as economic position of the garment workers in our society.
- To recommend measures to be taken for improving the socio-economic conditions and life standard of the garment workers.
Introduction:
The readymade garment industry (RMG) has played a pioneering role in the development of industrial sector of Bangladesh. Though it took a rather late start i.e. in 1976, it soon established its reputation in the world market within a short span of time. Consequently, RMG is now one of the main export items of the country. Besides, enriching the country’s economy it has been playing a vital role in alleviating unemployment. The Ready Made Garments (RMG) sector is a major foreign exchange revenue generator for Bangladesh contributing 84% to the country’s net exports during 2020-2021. Garment exports, totaling US$31456.73 million in Fiscal year 2020-2021 and which is 81.16% of total export. Employment in the RMG sector provides female workers with economic benefits and some empowerment. Over 90 percent of the production workers employed in RMG factories are women. Moreover, the industry accounts for about 70 percent of the total female employed in the country’s manufacturing sector.
It is well known that, life of a garment worker is very miserable. So, here i will discuss about miserable life of a garment worker and what steps should be taken to improve their life standard. These are described below briefly. I try to clarify these by my practical experience and information from journals and blogs.
Work Age:
In our country this factor is highly denied. Many industries allow child labor as well as expired labor.
Although, present situation is moderately good. A scenario from Bangladesh Human rights Network is mentioned here.
“No photographs. Saleha is scared. Many a time she has hidden under tables, been locked up in the toilet or been sent to the roof in the scorching sun for two or three hours. It happens whenever foreign buyers enter the factory. She knows she is under-age, and doesn’t want photographers messing things up – she needs the job. The whole industry has suddenly become sensitive. Owners want their factories open. The workers want their jobs. The special schools for former child labors want aid money”.
Work Duration:
A garments worker has to reach to garments very early morning. He works there long 12 hours from 8 am to 10 pm. Sometimes he has to work up to midnight and he also does not get any vehicle at that time for returning home. He does not get extra holiday except Friday and special occasions like Eid. If he does not go to work for any emergency personal work, then he does not get money for those days. As a result their life becomes bored.
Economical Life of a Garment Worker:
A garment worker earns very small amount of money like tk. 8000 to tk. 10000 only. Within this money he has to lead their life. He has to manage all the things within the small amount of his fee including feeding his family members, giving house rent, transport cost, cost of clothes etc.
A question is arising from here, how they manage their life? They need to do more work. i.e., over time job or do another part time job.
The amount of wage of garment worker is very low considering other countries.
Social Life of a Garment Worker:
Socially garments workers are neglected. They are considered as a lower class people in our society. Especially female worker are hazarded by their co-workers and by eve-teaser. Nowadays peoples are not happy about their profession.
A true story is described here:
“Sultana was the eldest of three children, whose father died while she was still at school. As a result she had to give up her education, as her mother was unable to bear the costs of keeping her brother and sister on her own. Sultana found work at the lowest level in a clothes factory, and was forced to work night shifts. She fell ill after two and a half months and had to leave her job. She then joined another garment factory, but again fell sick after five months.“Whenever I started working in these garment factories, I became sick,” says Sultana. “Yet I had no choice but to continue my work as I had to bear all the family expenses, including the education costs for my brother and sister. When I fell ill at my last factory, I applied for sick leave but I was denied it. I returned to the factory after four or five days and was denied my wages.” Sultana joined the NGWF section at the local shopping mall, in the hope of increasing her earnings”. From this story we can easily realized that Sultana was not satisfy with her job.
Industrial Life of a Garment Worker:
Industrial life of garment workers is very unhappy and unsafe in our country. Burning is a common phenomenon in our country. Burn takes many workers life.
Most of the time Females are sexually hazarded in the industry.
From the above discussion, we see that life of garments worker is full of unhappiness and pain. So, we need to change this worst condition. The following steps should be taken to improve this condition.
Idea Hunt:
Government or BGMEA can introduce a campaign named “IDEA HUNT” for solving present or upcoming problems of garments worker. They can gather idea from people. For this a prize should be adopted for best idea presenter.
Ensure Social Security:
Government should ensure social security for garment worker. Government can established colony for garment worker, which ensure minimum living standard.
Ensure Economical Security:
Government should setup a wage scale in comparing with other countries and workers monthly expense.
Provide Entertainment Facility:
Owner of garment industry should introduce entertainment facility in the industry. Some industries already introduce this step.
Provide Training of Garment Workers:
There is no alternative to training to any types of work in order to train up the worker to fit in the job for which he/she has been employed. Most of the garment workers who work in many factories are not that skilled to do the job as required by the management; as a result in most cases the product produced are of inferior quality. Although there is demand of our garment products in the world, the demand would have been much higher if our products are produced with precision. To bring that precision the BGMEA must create training institution where for the workers whose 90% are young women, must be made mandatory to get admitted into the training institution for at least three months in their respective field for which they want to be employed. It is only then we can expect our products will be highly appreciated and ordered at a price higher than the prevailing price which means more foreign exchange for our country.
Introduction of Medical Treatment:
Medical treatment should be introduced for garment worker. Due to this, they feel comfort in the industry.
Provide Required Education:
Most of the garment workers are illiterate. So, government should establish an educational institute only for garment industry worker. Due to this, they will be cautious about their life standard and their duty. They can be able to take advanced technology easily.
Ensure Safety in Industry:
Burn is a vital worried factor in garment industry. So the owner of garment industry should ensure required safety measurement.
From the above discussion we may finalized here that, Garment worker plays a key role in our national economy. So, we should ensure their desirable honor. We should be respectful about them. They contribute a lot for our country. We should give something in contrary.
References:
- Socio-Economic Conditions of Female Garment Workers in Chittagong Metropolitan Area–An Empirical Study. (Nazneen Jahan Chowdhury, Md. Hafij Ullah)
- http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/11/11/protests-by-bangladeshigarmentworkersclosesfactories.html
- https://www.bgmea.com.bd/page/Export_Performance
- http://www.studymode.com/essays/Life-Of-A-Garment-Worker-In-1083312.html
- http://nazifahmed.wordpress.com/ and also from my experience.
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Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. He is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.
