Garment Workers In Bangladesh Research Articles

Factors influencing work-satisfaction of global garments supply chain workers in Bangladesh

The purpose of this study is to assess different factors under the Bangladesh labour legislation for promoting work-satisfaction of the global garment workers in Bangladesh. A convenient sampling technique was used for collecting 208 employee responses through a five-point Likert scale structured questionnaire. The respondents were garments-manufacturing industry workers working in three hot spots known as towns of Savar and Ashulia (Dhaka District) and Gazipur Sadar (Gazipur District). The survey was conducted between November and December, 2019. This research study finds that seven factors significantly influence work-satisfaction of garment workers in Bangladesh. Among these, four are related to the non-pecuniary factors: supervisory treatment of the workers, working environment, hygienic canteen facility, and medical facility. The three other factors, namely, the amount of salary, timely payment of salary and increment policy for the workers, play a significant part in workers’ satisfaction. This study helps in assessing the opinions of the workers about their work-satisfaction as well as policy planning for the development of the garments-manufacturing industry. Also, this study will add value to the setting of South Asian developing countries and industries because of the similar socio-economic environment to Bangladesh.

Estimating the effect of buyers’ commitment to corporate social responsibility on safety risks in garment factories in Bangladesh

• Buyers’ commitment to improve safety risks in garment factories. • Extension of corporate social responsibility to garment suppliers. • The Accord on fire and building safety in Bangladesh. • Negative binomial regression. After eight years of the collapse of the Rana Plaza building killing more than 1000 garment workers in Bangladesh and motivating flurry of initiatives with international buyers taking the lead role to improve safety risks in the garment factories in Bangladesh, there is still no large-scale study estimating the effect of buyers’ commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on safety risks in supplying factories. In this study, we address this gap in the literature by estimating the association between buyers’ commitment and safety risks in a group of 222 randomly selected garment factories under inspection by Accord - a consortium of brands, retailers, trade unions, and garment suppliers with focus on inspection and remediation of structural, electrical and fire risks in garment factories’ buildings in Bangladesh. The empirical analysis is conducted using archival data available from Accord, while Buyers’ commitment to CSR is measured by the Fashion Transparency Index (FTI). Our results show moderately significant effect of buyers’ commitment on the three types of safety risks (structural, electrical, and fire risks) in supplying factories. Moreover, our findings reveal that the variables Multipurpose Building and Duration of Inspection by the consortium Accord have significant effect on the three types of safety risks. Taken together, our findings lend support to the reinforcing positive effect on safety risks of interrelated elements such as buyers’ commitment to extend Corporate Social Responsibility to supplying factories, privately regulatory initiatives (i.e., Accord), and compliance-based enforcement strategies including new safety regulations.

Perception of nutritional status and personal hygiene practices of female garment workers in Bangladesh

The garment industry is one of the main export-based economic sectors in Bangladesh. Female workers are a crucial part of this sector and have had a pivotal role in increasing the county's revenue in recent decades. The prime aim of this study was to observe the nutritional status and personal hygiene practices of female garment workers (FGW) in the Chattogram metropolitan area, Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study had conducted for collecting data from randomly selected garment workers (382) in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Then data analysis (univariate and bivariate) was performed using STATA 13.0 software. This study revealed that 46.34% of the participant's weight was in the normal range based on body mass index (BMI), 3.14%were underweight,38.74% were pre-obese, and11.78 % were obese. Most of the respondents (56.54%) had normal hemoglobin levels, and three-fourths of their blood pressure was normal. Furthermore, we found a significant association of safe water drinking with the level of education, mother’s occupation, marital status, and family income (p< 0.05). In conclusion, the awareness of hygiene practices among women and government policy needs strengthening to reduce the risks of unhygienic practices

Vision Impairment and Productivity Among Female Garment Workers in Bangladesh: A Cohort Study.

To assess the prevalence of near and correctable distance visual impairment among screened participants in the garment industry and to explore associations with income, age, and urban versus rural residence. Vision screenings were conducted at 4 garment factories, 2 urban and 2 rural locations during September and October 2019. Distance vision impairment was the presence of uncorrected vision of <6/12 in either eye, correctable to ≥6/7.5 with distance refraction. Near vision impairment was defined as 1 or more of the following: 1) either eye with presenting near vision <N8 at 40 cm with distance visual acuity >6/12 in the same eye; 2) having been prescribed near add spectacle power in examination records; and/or 3) clinical diagnosis of presbyopia at the time of screening. Demographic information and monthly income were self-reported by questionnaire completion. Among 915 participating workers (100% female, 18 to 70 years), 29.2% (n = 267) and 26.8% (n = 245) had correctable distance and near vision impairment respectively. Prevalence of near vision impairment was significantly higher among rural residents (34.2%, n = 160), compared to urban (19.0%, n = 85, P < 0.0001) with the largest differences in the 35 to 39 (68.2% vs 44.2%, P = 0.0019) and 40+ (85.9 vs 48.9%, P < 0.0001) year age ranges. Prevalence of near vision impairment was already high among urban (20.4%, n = 20) and rural (23.0%, n = 17) workers aged 30 to 34 years. In simple linear regression models, participants with near vision impairment earned $13.3 [standard error (SE) 2.44, P < 0.0001] less per month than those without, while urban residents earned $40.6 (SE 1.74, P < 0.0001) more than rural dwellers. In the final multivariate linear model, both near vision impairment ($6.51 lower monthly earnings, SE 1.84, P = 0.0004) and urban residence ($43.2 higher monthly earnings, SE 2.39, P < 0.0001) remained significantly associated with income. This study found high rates of near vision impairment among female garment workers, particularly rural dwellers, and at a younger age than expected. The high prevalence and association between near vision impairment and lower income suggest that focusing on industries with a high proportion of female workers, such as readymade garments, may be effective in addressing gender disparities in vision impairment and its economic impact.

The impact of paid employment on women's empowerment: A case study of female garment workers in Bangladesh

The role of the Ready-made Garment (RMG) sector in transforming the lives of working women in Bangladesh has been controversial. This study examines the impact of paid employment in the RMG sector on the empowerment of its female workers. The fieldwork includes semi-structured interviews with female garment workers to explore their lived experiences and views. The primary qualitative data analysis draws principally on Kabeer's (1999) three inter-related dimensions (resources, agency, and achievements) of empowerment. The main findings of the research are that women with access to employment opportunities in this sector have become economically empowered and independent. The higher economic capacity gives them greater autonomy and makes them confident to make some household and strategic life choices. Increased access to public spaces and consciousness about their right to make life choices have boosted their self-esteem. The study concludes that paid employment in the RMG sector has a significant positive impact on the economic, social, and psychological empowerment of female workers in the readymade garments sector. However, some critical constraints in the sector continue to limit their potential for being further empowered. The findings offer valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers.

Personal Safety and Fear of Sexual Harassment among Female Garment Workers in Bangladesh.

Personal safety and fear of sexual harassment may discourage women from participating at work and in public life, limiting their life opportunities. The study proposed to determine personal safety and fear of sexual harassment among female garment workers in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 201 female garment workers from Dhaka and Chittagong cities. Participants were selected using snowballing sampling techniques with the data collected by using anonymised questionnaires. The Pearson product–moment correlation and analysis of variance were employed using SPSS version 27.0. Results showed that 25% of the participants perceived that they were most likely to be sexually harassed by their manager and 25% never felt safe going to work. Age and the marital status of the participants were significantly associated with personal safety and fear of sexual harassment (p < 0.05). The correlation analysis found a significant positive correlation between personal safety and the fear of sexual harassment [r (201) = 0.85 **, p < 0.05], among the participants. A deep commitment from leadership with cooperation at all levels of the organisations is required to address these acts of violence and organisational conditions, rather than a form of unreflective compliance or a ‘gender-neutral’ approach that fails to recognise individual needs and maintain gender inequality.

Hygiene behavior among Female Garment Workers: a Pre- COVID-19 Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh

This cross-sectional study was undertaken to delineate the hygiene behavior among the female garmentworkers in Bangladesh during pre-COVID-19 period. 500 female garments workers were selected for thestudy. Data were collected by face-to-face interview method using semi-structured questionnaire whichinclude the information on socio-demography, different components of personal hygiene such as bathing,brushing teeth, washing feet, washing/ changing cloth, washing hair by soap/ shampoo, trimming nailand washing hand. The majority of the participants (&gt;75%) had ideal knowledge and practiceon everyconsidered hygiene behavior. Regarding hand-washing behavior, only 3% had appropriate knowledge andideally practiced by 60.2%. Knowledge of the respondents was significantly associated with ideal practiceof all components (p=0.01). Predictors identified according to age, BMI, education and marital status ofrespondents, were significantly associated with hygiene related to bathing, washing feet, clothing, hair andhand.

Study of Age-Related Finger Span and Hand Grip Strength of Adult Female Garment Workers in Bangladesh

Background: Age related hand anthropometry is important for the effective designing of dimensionally compatible hand tools, gloves, machine access spaces and hand-held devices. The present study was designed to measure and compare finger spans and the hand grip strength of both hands of adult female garment workers of different age groups in Bangladesh and to establish correlation between finger spans and the hand grip strength of same hand.&#x0D; Materials and methods: The study was a descriptive, observational and cross sectional in nature with some analytic component; carried out in the Department of anatomy, Chittagong Medical College, Chattogram, from January 2015 to December 2015. A purposive non random convenient sampling was done to select 300 female garment workers, age ranging from 21-35 years. Hand grip strength and 5 finger spans were measured. ANOVA test was performed to correlate of finger spans and hand grip strength of different age groups.&#x0D; Results: Difference of hand grip strength with age showed significant in both hands. Difference of finger spans with age showed non-significant. There was positive correlation between finger spans and hand grip strength of the same hand.&#x0D; Conclusion: Study of age related anthropometric measurements of hand can play an important role to design same workplace, same hand tools, and same access spaces for the hand of the age group (21-35) years of adult female garment workers in Bangladesh and increase the usage of human resources.&#x0D; Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.20 (1); January 2021; Page 62-66

Impact of COVID-19 on Ready-made Garments Workers in Bangladesh

COVID-19 is an overwhelming crisis that has touched almost every sector. As the Ready-made Garments (RMG) sector is closely integrated with the global supply chain, it is important to understand the implications of COVID-19 on RMG workers as they are the most vulnerable in this situation. This article aims to explore the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic on RMG workers in Bangladesh. Particularly, it investigates the impact on health, safety and security, employment, livelihood, and social relations of the workers. The research also explores the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in this regard. The study followed qualitative methodology. The primary data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussion, and key informant interviews. The findings revealed that COVID-19 faced detrimental consequences in terms of health, safety and security, and social relations. The workers also faced a livelihood crisis as their earnings were curtailed.

Slips, Trips and Falls among the workers in a garment industry in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Introduction: Slips, trips and falls (STFs) lead to considerable accidents and injuries with a large financial consequence. In garment industries, occupational accidents and injuries are not uncommon and slips, trips and falls are the major contributory factors. It aimed to find out the contributing factors of slips, trips and falls among the garment workers in Bangladesh.&#x0D; Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a garment industry to find out the factors responsible for slips, trips and falls among the workers. The study participants were garment workers with one year of experience, regardless of age and sex. A total of 208 workers was selected by simple random sampling. The study was conducted from July 2018 to June 2019.&#x0D; Results: Among the total 208 respondents, 130 (62.5%) were female and the mean age was 27.49±7.18 years. The majority of the respondents (57.2%) had a primary level of education and had work experience up to five years (71.6%). Of the total respondents, 62 (29.8%) had the experience of slips, trips and falls (STFs) in the last six months. Among them, slips were experienced by 34(16.3%), trips by 43(20.7%) and falls by 40(19.2%) respondents. Poor housekeeping 23(53.6%), mopped wet floor 18(52.9%), slopped and slippery floors 14(35.0%), improper storage 14(32.6%), uneven floor 12(30.0%) and spilling of drinks 9(26.5%) in a higher proportion were responsible for slips, trips and falls. The ergonomic factors which were reported to contribute to slips, trips and falls in a higher proportion were working posture 30(69.8%) and load-bearing 24 (60%). Workplace stress, on the other hand, was found to be the most common 37(92.5%) contributing factor to slips, trips and falls.&#x0D; Conclusion: Almost two-thirds of garment workers experienced slips, trips and falls in their workplace. To prevent slips, trips and falls, steps should be taken to reduce the contributing factors, especially the workplace stress among the workers.

Factors Associated with Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Female Readymade Garment Workers in Bangladesh: A Comparative Study Between OSH Compliant and Non-Compliant Factories.

PurposeMusculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common occupational diseases responsible for work restriction and absenteeism. The purpose of the study was to compare the prevalence of MSDs between ready-made garment (RMG) factories that are compliant versus non-compliant with International Labor Organization (ILO) based Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards, and to identify other factors associated with a higher prevalence of MSDs.MethodsA multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among 410 randomly selected female workers (age: >18 years; ≥1 year of work experience) from 12 randomly selected RMG factories in the Dhaka district of Bangladesh from February to December 2019. Factories were stratified as OSH compliant or non-compliant. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consist of socio-demographic, work-related factors, and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) for MSD assessment. Robust Poisson regression was used to investigate the association of MSDs with OSH compliance, socio-demographic and other work-related factors.ResultsRespondents’ mean age was 26.9 ± 5.9 years. A total of 235 (57%) of the workers reported musculoskeletal pain in at least one body part during the last month. Among the nine reported MSDs, the prevalence of lower back pain was highest (41%) followed by pain in the knees (33%). Multivariable analysis showed lower prevalence of any MSD among workers in OSH compliant factories [aPR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31–0.58], and workers with regular working hours (8 hrs/day) [aPR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.62–1.00]. The risk of developing any MSD was significantly higher for age group 25–30 years [aPR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01–1.33] and age group ≥31 years [aPR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.04–1.1.39].ConclusionThe study found a high burden of musculoskeletal disorders among female RMG workers, especially those in non-OSH compliant factories that work long hours. Enforcement of minimum ILO-based OSH standards and introduction of low-cost interventions to improve working conditions in non-compliant factories would help sustain the pace of development in this sector in Bangladesh, and ensure the health of the women who work there.

Health sufferings, healthcare seeking behavior, awareness about health insurance, and health related rights of ready made garments workers in Bangladesh: Findings from a cross-sectional study.

ObjectivesThis study aimed at examining health sufferings of readymade garments (RMG) workers, the factors that affect their health sufferings, their healthcare seeking pattern, knowledge about health insurance and health related rights in Bangladesh.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted among 486 RMG workers recruited randomly from eight garments factories located on the periphery of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, headache, fever and abdominal pain was estimated and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine association between these illnesses of workers and their socio‐demographic characteristics and other work related information. We also explored their healthcare seeking patterns, knowledge about health insurance and health related rights.ResultsThe prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, headache, fever and abdominal pain was found to be 78.1%, 57.9%, 52.2% and 24.6%, respectively, among the RMG workers. Factors that increased the odds of: musculoskeletal pain were working for more than 10 h per day (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–4.7) and being female [AOR: 4.6, 95% CI: 2.0–10.6]; fever was living in slums [AOR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.5]; and abdominal pain was being female [AOR: 3.6, 95% CI: 1.4–9.3]. The workers commonly reported visiting drug sellers in local pharmacies for reported illnesses. They also had better knowledge of health related rights but poor knowledge of health insurance.ConclusionIn order to address the overall health and well‐being of the RMG workers, it is imperative to lay out a blueprint for a safe and healthy workplace.

Learnings from the evaluation of HERrespect: a factory-based intervention to prevent intimate partner and workplace violence against female garment workers in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and workplace violence (WPV) against women are widespread globally, and we set out to establish whether an intervention on gender-transformative programming delivered to Bangladeshi garment factory workers could reduce women’s experience of IPV and WPV. We developed and tested an intervention, HERrespect and encountered considerable obstacles. Objective: To describe the challenges in program implementation and evaluation in the factories and the serious implications that arose for the study outcomes. Methods: HERrespect is a participatory intervention with mostly parallel group sessions for female and male workers and the management staff, designed to be delivered weekly in three hourly sessions, and supported by some factory-wide and limited community information campaigns. It was evaluated in a quasi-experimental study conducted in eight garment factories in and around Dhaka city, with a cohort of 800 women workers and 395 management staff who were followed for 24 months. Results: The study was conducted in the ready-made garment industry with substantial power imbalances between buyers, factory management and workers. The factories were contacted through the buyers, and some factories had agreed to participate half-heartedly. Many did not make enough time available for optimal implementation. Thus, the sessions were shortened and spread out. The factories did not make all the group members available for sessions. Whilst agreeing to participate, some management undermined the research by warning workers against disclosing information that may harm the business, resulting in the endline data being unreliable. Conclusions: Future research on IPV prevention in this sector is advised to: (1) Gain genuine management buy-in prior to starting activities; (2) implement an optimally intensive programme for the workers and management; (3) engage men from the female workers’ communities. WPV prevention will require a change in the structural violence of the just-in-time regime which contributes largely to WPV.

Technology-based Support for Ready Made Garment Workers in Bangladesh: Understanding their Lives before and during COVID-19 Pandemic

Technology-based Support for Ready Made Garment Workers in Bangladesh: Understanding their Lives before and during COVID-19 Pandemic

Does compliance to standards in the ready‐made garments industry affect employee attitudes? A study in Bangladesh

Due to high quality at low costs, Bangladesh has long been of interest to retailers as a location for sourcing garments. In 2012 and 2013 however, two disasters drew the world's attention to the poor working conditions of the garment workers there, which in turn led to demands that these conditions should be improved. However, many factory owners continue to view compliance as a cost and are reluctant to improve standards. Based on data from 444 workers in the ready‐made garments industry, this study focuses on the mediating effect of job satisfaction on compliance with improved standards, and employee engagement. The findings confirm that compliance acts as a distal antecedent to employee engagement and job satisfaction fully mediates the compliance–engagement relationship. The results shed light on the significance of compliance with standards in terms of long‐term profitability, and retaining an engaged workforce. They highlight the value of good management practices when implementing compliance in the garment factories of Bangladesh and provide guidance for policymakers and groups concerned with the working conditions of garment workers in Bangladesh and elsewhere.

How does the Labour of Women Unveil the Coloniality of Power? An Anthropological Context of the RMG (Readymade Garments) Workers of Bangladesh

The readymade garments workers in Bangladesh are the most important persons in the economy of Bangladesh. Without their contribution, we have not got the status of a middle-income country. There is a distinct similarity between the garment’s workers and slavery in terms of the long work hours, wage gap, and curbing human rights. This research is focused on the relation between power and labor in the garment factory. So, this paper is based on the theory of ‘Coloniality of Power’ by Anibal Quijano (2000). It is investigating how the labourers have become modern ‘slaves’, how they are being treated, and how their flesh and blood are used to bear the practice of colonialism. This paper concludes with some recommendations for stopping this practice.

Telepsychiatry as a mental health intervention for garment workers in Bangladesh: A ‘Need of Hour’ during COVID-19?

Telepsychiatry as a mental health intervention for garment workers in Bangladesh: A ‘Need of Hour’ during COVID-19?

Spirometric Assessment of Lung Function in Garment Workers in Bangladesh: A Cross Sectional Study

Spirometric Assessment of Lung Function in Garment Workers in Bangladesh: A Cross Sectional Study

Spirometric Assessment of Lung Function in Garment Workers in Bangladesh: A Cross Sectional Study

Spirometric Assessment of Lung Function in Garment Workers in Bangladesh: A Cross Sectional Study

Rana Plaza, disaster politics, and the empowerment of women garment workers in Bangladesh

ABSTRACTBangladesh’s garments workers have served as both an emblem of that country’s rapid social and economic progress, and of the precarities of labour in global value chains. Based on an understanding of how disaster politics have played out in Bangladesh’s history, this article explores whether and how the Rana Plaza disaster has been a critical juncture in the politics of the sector, resulting in a shift in power relations that empowers workers to demand and secure their rights. Drawing on a framework developed by Mark Pelling and Kathleen Dill for the analysis of the politics of natural disasters, the article explores the aftermath of the 2013 factory collapse in which 1,134 factory workers were killed. The article examines changes in workers’ own agency and resources, and in their relationships to the state and transnational actors. The article concludes that while the disaster was a turning point in key respects, it has not – unlike previous major disasters in Bangladesh – generated an elite consensus over the priority of workers’ rights and in particular of trade unions. Workers are more empowered than in the past but have yet to fully reverse their historical associational and structural disempowerment.