Workers In Bangladesh Research Articles

Pattern of skin diseases among workers in ship-breaking yards in Bangladesh

Dealing with different toxic chemical and physical agents in ship scrapping activities of ship breaking workers make them vulnerable to suffer from different occupational health hazards including skin diseases. this cross sectional study was carried out in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka and a temporary health center established near the ship-breaking yards of Shitakunda, Chittagong to describe the frequency and pattern of skin diseases among ship-breaking workers in Bangladesh. Five hundred workers of ship breaking yards were included consecutively, history was taken and examined to diagnose skin diseases. Physical examination and laboratory tests (patch test, prick test, woods lamp test, microscopy and histopathology) were done where needed. Most (69.2%) of the workers were from the age group 15 to 62 years and 27.8% were <18 years. Only 27 (5.4%) had some sorts of training and 24.8% do not use any type of protective measure. At least one form of skin disease was found in 47.8% workers. Types of skin diseases were contact dermatitis (19.4%), scabies (15.8%), accidental cut/burn/scald (15.6%), fungal infection (dermatophytosis / pityriasis versicolor/ candidiasis) (10.6%), impetigo / pyoderma (9.8%), seborrheic dermatitis (9.6%), acne 7.2%, palmoplantar keratoderma 4.8%, glossitis/stomatitis/ chelitis 4.4%, lichen simplex chronicus 3.4%, urticaria 2.4% and psoriasis 1.2%. Contact dermatitis, scabies, accidental cut/burn/scald, fungal infections, impetigo/pyoderma, seborrheic dermatitis and acne are the common skin diseases among ship breaking workers. Ensuring adequate protective measures, awareness and training can control these skin diseases among ship-breaking workers.Bangladesh Med J. 2016 Sep; 45 (3): 147-150

Revisiting the Feminist Debates on International Labor Standards in the Aftermath of Rana Plaza

This paper revisits the turn of the millennium feminist debates on international labor standards in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza factory collapse of 2013 that killed over 1100 garment workers in Bangladesh. Feminists were divided over the benefits of establishing internationally enforced labor standards and, more generally, on the usefulness of transnational activism and union organizing for garment workers. The arguments of some feminist opponents during and in the aftermath of the debate emphasized the relative advantages of garment jobs, dismissed the importance of union rights, and criticized the labor transnationalism. These arguments have left unchallenged the current regulatory regime in Bangladesh by allaying concerns about poor working conditions. Drawing upon new empirical evidence, the paper shows that export growth under the market regulatory regime has failed to improve labor conditions in the sector. The paper makes the case for the continuing relevance of feminist arguments that favor a more proactive stance to make job growth compatible with wage gains and improved labor conditions. As they argued, the scope of the response has to be international, including solidaristic activism supporting local worker organizations, and the use of wage increases to move Bangladesh on a development path toward a higher-productivity, higher-wage economy.

The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression: A Comparison Study of Garment Factory Workers in Bangladesh

The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression: A Comparison Study of Garment Factory Workers in Bangladesh

Constrained Labour as Instituted Process

AbstractThe paper proposes a critical understanding of contemporary “low-skilled,” transnational contract work/circular migration as a guest-worker regime. Rather than approach circular migration as an instrument of development, or a human rights problem, this paper situates it within the larger, historical debates over the status of labour that emphasise questions of surplus extraction. Drawing on ethnographic research among Bangladeshi male migrants in Singapore and return workers in Bangladesh, the paper explores two crucial moments in the life of migrants—of choosing overseas contract work, and of leaving. In each moment, it highlights certain mechanisms that push migrants along the porous line between free and un-free work, incrementally toward the latter.

Prevalence and risk factors of depression among garment workers in Bangladesh

Depression is a growing health issue in both developed and developing countries. General unawareness at the population level, lack of training among health care providers and scarcity of resources including treatment opportunities may conceal the real burden of depression in developing countries, and more epidemiological studies on its prevalence and risk factors are critically needed. This study reports the prevalence of depression and its associated risk factors among female garment factory workers in Bangladesh - a major supplier country of clothes for the Western market. This research should generate useful evidence for national and international stakeholders who have an interest in improving health, safety and well-being of outsourced factory workers. A survey was conducted on a sample of 600 lower socio-economic status working women including garment workers. This survey collected data on demographic and health profile of these workers. The primary outcome was depression as measured by Patient Health Questionnaire 9. It also obtained data on traumatic life events and post-traumatic stress disorder. The prevalence of depression was 23.5%: 20.9% among garment workers and 26.4% among others. Part-time employment (odds ratio-OR): 2.36, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.01-5.51), chronic pain (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.01-2.78), two or more traumatic life events (OR: 6.43, 95% CI: 2.85-14.55) and dysuria (OR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.02-6.15) were found to be significantly associated with depression among these workers in multivariate regression model. Depression prevalene lowered by 11% among these workers for every additional monthly earning of 1,000 taka (US$12). Depression is a multifaceted health issue with many personal, social, economic and health determinants and consequences. This study demonstrates that the prevalence of moderate-to-severe depression among working women in Bangladesh is quite high. Prevention and treatment of depression in developing countries and societies can reduce suffering, lower incidence of suicide, and prevent economic loss. Creating awareness on outsourced workers' poor mental health may help in developing initiatives to protect and preserve their well-being.

The effect of the Rana Plaza disaster on shareholder wealth of retailers: Implications for sourcing strategies and supply chain governance

Supply chain and reputational risks are often assumed to motivate firms to source production in developed, high-cost countries rather than developing, low-cost countries. To examine this assumption, we provide evidence from the collapse of the Rana Plaza building on April 24, 2013, which with its 1133 fatalities and 2438 injuries is seen as one of the worst industrial accidents in history. Do markets reactive negatively enough to such events to motivate firms to shift their sourcing strategy? We analyze the stock market reaction to the Rana Plaza disaster in the Bangladeshi ready-made garment industry to address this question. Our analysis is based on a sample of 39 publicly traded global apparel retailers with significant garment sourcing in Bangladesh. Stock market reaction to retailers on the day of the Rana Plaza disaster is negative, but its magnitude and significance dissipate by the following day. We find no evidence of significant stock market reaction during the 11 trading days (approximately two weeks in calendar time) following the disaster. Retailers responded to the disaster by developing two different agreements to improve factory and worker safety in Bangladesh – the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh (AFBSB), and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety (ABWS). We find no evidence of significant stock market reaction to the announcements of the AFBSB and the ABWS. The insignificant negative economic impact from the Rana Plaza disaster suggests that retailers have little economic incentive to move sourcing out of Bangladesh or other low-cost countries so as to reduce the risk of being involved in such events. We discuss the implications of our results for retailers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), garment factory owners in Bangladesh, the Bangladeshi government, and academic researchers.

Vitamin D and Parathyroid Hormone Status in Female Garment Workers: A Case-Control Study in Bangladesh.

Despite the abundant sunlight, vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in South Asian countries including Bangladesh. Information on vitamin D level is insufficient in adults particularly in female garment workers in Bangladesh. This study was designed to evaluate the status of vitamin D, parathormone (PTH), calcium, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) among the female garment workers in Bangladesh. Blood samples were collected from female garment workers (n = 40, case group) and general female workers (n = 40, control group) in Dhaka. Serum vitamin D, PTH, calcium, and ALP were measured by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. The mean level of vitamin D was significantly (p < 0.001) lower in case (14.2 ± 2.6 ng/mL) than in the control (22.4 ± 2.4 ng/mL) group. No significant difference was found at mean of PTH and calcium between case (33.9 ± 17.2 pg/mL; 9.1 ± 0.6 mg/dL, resp.) and control (35.9 ± 16.3 pg/mL; 9.3 ± 0.6 mg/dL, resp.) group. The mean ALP in case (117.2 ± 14.4 U/L) group was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than the control group (80.5 ± 30.6 U/L). Overall, PTH level did not show significant correlation with vitamin D. However, calcium and ALP levels showed a significant positive (p < 0.05) and negative (p < 0.001) correlation with vitamin D, respectively. This study indicates a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the female garment workers in Bangladesh.

Working Conditions and Lives of Female Readymade Garment Workers in Bangladesh

Working Conditions and Lives of Female Readymade Garment Workers in Bangladesh

Health and Nutritional Status of Female Garment Workers in Bangladesh: A Critical Analysis

Health and Nutritional Status of Female Garment Workers in Bangladesh: A Critical Analysis

The Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights: Labour Violations and Shared Responsibility

The ‘Protect, Respect, and Remedy’ Framework and the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights drafted by John Ruggie, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Business and Human Rights, place responsibility on multinational corporations to respect human rights in conducting their relationships with business partners. The article explicates and criticizes the normative conception of responsibility underpinning Ruggie’s approach. It does so by juxtaposing Ruggie’s approach with an alternative normative conception of shared responsibility towards workers’ rights, according to which responsibility to prevent and remedy labour rights violations should be shared by all participants in the global chains of production. The shared responsibility approach offers a set of five principles for allocating responsibility among the different participants, whereas Ruggie takes into consideration only two of these principles. Thus, we argue that the moral responsibility of business proposed by the Framework and Guiding Principles is too narrow and does not allow for a substantive protection of labour rights in global supply chains. The Framework and the Guiding Principles should be revised to place stringent responsibilities on multinational corporations. Such revisions are not only morally justified but could also be feasible, as demonstrated by recent developments, such as the creation of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, as well as the demands raised by Ecuador and South Africa in the 26th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Assessment of whole-body occupational radiation exposure in industrial radiography practices in Bangladesh during 2010-2014

Presently, ten industrial radiography facilities are operating in Bangladesh using X-ray or gamma-ray sources. During the last 5-year, 14 industrial radiography facilities were received individual monitoring service using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) from the Health Physics Division (HPD), Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka under Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. HPD is the only individual monitoring service provider in Bangladesh due to external sources of ionizing radiation. The number of monitored industrial radiography facilities ranged from 7 to 14 while the number of worker ranged from 72 to 133 during the study period. The annual average effective doses received from external radiation in industrial radiography workers and the distributions of the annual effective doses by dose intervals are presented. The distribution of the occupational doses shows that the majority (about 75 %) of workers received doses below 1 mSv for the last 5-years. Even though, very few workers (about 1%) received doses higher than average annual dose limit (20 mSv), but no workers received doses higher than 100 mSv in 5 consecutive years. The average annual effective dose of industrial radiography workers in Bangladesh is higher than the corresponding values in Tanzania, Greece, Poland, Australia, UK and lower than in Bosnia and Herzegovina, USA and Canada. However, the average annual effective dose is comparable to the corresponding values in China, Brazil, Germany and India. The status and trends in occupational doses show that radiation protection situation at the majority of the workplace were satisfactory. In spite of that, additional measures are required due to big differences observed in the maximum individual doses over the last 5-year.

Socio-Economic Factors of Readymade Garments Workers in Bangladesh

Readymade garment industry is the prime sector of foreign earnings of Bangladesh. There are more than 4,500 garment companies are operating in Bangladesh. More than 80% of the foreign earnings are coming from this sector. At present, four million workers are working in this sector in which 90% are rural women. It is claimed by the employers that the garment companies have helped to develop the socio-economic status of the rural women employed in this sector. Hence, this paper aims at identifying the socio-economic status factors of the garment workers of Bangladesh. This study suggests that housing, water and sanitation conditions, medical facilities and first aid treatment, wages, social status, adaptation of cultural values and norms, attachment with labor unions, ownership arrangement, leave with pay and overtime are significantly related to the socio-economic status of the garments workers of Bangladesh. This study recommends that the measures for improving the socio-economic status of the women workers are related to the improvement of their housing conditions, education, health and sanitation, and the favorable service rules for the women workers.

A Multivariate Analysis of Job Satisfaction of Ready-made Garments (RMG) Workers in Bangladesh

&lt;p&gt;There is a paramount importance of Job Satisfaction of the employees of an organization for the smooth functioning of its work. It has substantial impact on workers’ performance. RMG workers of Bangladesh are enormous in number and instrumental to the economic growth of Bangladesh. But the salary and other benefits of these workers are very low compared to that of other industrial sectors. Sometimes, the salary and benefits are not even paid on time to the workers. As a result, a serious concern has been raised by the national and international stakeholders about the job satisfaction of RMG workers. Therefore, this study aims at identifying the job satisfaction factors of the RMG workers and providing suggestions for the improvement of present situation. For analyzing data multivariate analysis techniques are used by using Smart PLS, and SPSS. Salary and benefits, supervisor’s behavior, work and family life, working condition and the working environment are identified as factors having influence on job satisfaction of RMG workers in Bangladesh. Results show that the salary and benefits, supervisor’s behavior, work and family life are significantly related to the job satisfaction of the workers. This study suggests that for ensuring job satisfaction of the RMG workers in Bangladesh the policy makers should focus more on salary and benefits, supervisors’ behavior, and work and family life of the workers.&lt;/p&gt;

Life Chances: Labor Rights, International Institutions, and Worker Fatalities in the Global South

Hundreds of thousands of workers die on the job each year around the world, with disproportionately high fatality rates in the global South. Using fixed effects regression models for 51 countries located in the global South, this research examines how shifts in state context, ties to international organizations, and economic context affect worker fatalities from 1985 and 2002. We find that strengthening collective labor rights—the ability to protest and form worker organizations free from repression—is tightly linked to fewer fatalities. Certain forms of global institutional ties are related to workers’ deaths. Increased links to international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) are associated with fewer deaths. Ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, however, is decoupled from fatalities. We examine ratification of a specific safety convention, as well as general embeddedness in the ILO, as represented by ratification of the fundamental conventions. Finally, measures of economic globalization, Foreign Direct Investment and exports, have no significant relationship to fatalities, net of socio-political factors. To unpack the mechanisms underlying the quantitative results, we present three illustrations: construction workers in Uruguay, garment workers in Bangladesh, and miners in South Africa.

Effects of occupational illness on labor productivity: A socioeconomic aspect of informal sector workers in urban Bangladesh.

The informal sector is the dominant area of employment and the economy for any developing country including Bangladesh. The cost of productivity loss due to absence from work or presenteeism with illness has rarely been examined in the Bangladesh context. This current study, therefore, attempted to examine the impact of ill health of informal sector workers on labor productivity, future earning, and healthcare-related expenditure. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among three occupational groups of informal workers (rickshaw pullers, shopkeepers and restaurant workers) that were generally found in all urban areas in Bangladesh. A total of 557 informal workers were surveyed for this study. Most of the respondents (57%) reported that they had been affected by some type of illness for the last six months. The overall average healthcare expenditure of informal workers was US&#36;48.34, while restaurant workers expended more (US&#36;53.61). Self reported sickness absenteeism was highest (50.37days) in the case of shop keepers, followed by rickshaw pullers (49.31 days), in the last six months. Considering the income loss due to illness in the past six months, the rickshaw pullers were exposed to the highest income loss (US&#36;197.15), followed by the shop keepers (US&#36;151.39). Although the informal sector contributes the most to the economy of Bangladesh, the workers in this sector have hardly any financial protection. This study provides critical clues to providing financial and social protection to informal sector workers in Bangladesh.

Global Technological Change in a Labor Intensive Industry: Its Impact on Textile and Garment Workers

One of the challenges of globalization for the least developed countries is that technology change erodes the advantages of labor intensive technology. This paper examines key impacts of this technological change on job security, job satisfaction, and work relations of textile and garment workers in Bangladesh. It shows that the overall positive impact of technological change is associated with the suitable levels of job security, job satisfaction and work relations. Factors including uncertainty, frustration in terms of the job security; fairness, good supervision minimal conflicts, recognition, promotion and benefits concerned with job satisfaction. The change process, downsizing and strikes are related to the work relations. Both job satisfaction and work relations are significantly related to the overall impact on workers. Job security is related to the overall impact of technological change particularly because of the uncertainty and frustration among workers concerning their status.

Prevention and control of tuberculosis in workplaces: how knowledgeable are the workers in Bangladesh?

BackgroundThe National Tuberculosis (TB) Control Programme (NTP) of Bangladesh succeeded in achieving the dual targets of 70 % case detection and 85 % treatment completion as set by the World Health Organization. However, TB prevention and control in work places remained largely an uncharted area for NTP. There is dearth of information regarding manufacturing workers’ current knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on pulmonary TB which is essential for designing a TB prevention and control programme in the workplaces. This study aimed to fill-in this knowledge gap.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey was done in multiple workplaces like garment factories, jute mills, bidi/tobacco factories, flour mills, and steel mills using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data on workers’ KAP related to pulmonary TB were collected from 4800 workers in face-to-face interview.ResultsThe workers were quite knowledgeable about symptoms of pulmonary TB (72 %) and free- of-cost sputum test (86 %) and drug treatment (88 %), but possessed superficial knowledge regarding causation (4 %) and mode of transmission (48 %). Only 11 % knew about preventive measures e.g., taking BCG vaccine and/or refraining from spitting here and there. Knowledge about treatment duration (43 %) and consequences of incomplete treatment (11 %) was poor. Thirty-one percent were afraid of the disease, 21 % would feel embarrassed (and less dignified) if they would have TB, and 50 % were afraid of isolation if neighbours would come to know about it. Workers with formal education (AOR 1.92; 95 % CI 1.61, 2.29) and exposure to community health workers (CHW) (AOR 31.60; 95 % CI 18.75, 53.35) were more likely to have TB knowledge score ≥ mean. Workers with knowledge score ≥ mean (AOR = 1.91; 95 % CI:1.44, 2.53) and exposure to CHWs either alone (AOR = 42.4; 95 % CI: 9.94, 180.5) or in combination with print media (AOR = 37.35; 95 % CI: 9.1, 180.5) were more likely to go to DOTS centre for treatment . Only around 43 % had sputum examination despite having chronic cough of ≥ 3 weeks duration.ConclusionThe workers had inadequate knowledge regarding its causation, transmission and prevention which may interfere with appropriate treatment-seeking for chronic cough including sputum test. NTP needs to be cognizant of these factors while designing a workplace TB prevention and control programme for Bangladesh.

'Social Responsibility - Doing Good While Also Making Money and Protecting Owner Interests' -- Introduction and Questions (Without Answers)

There are a huge number of issues surrounding corporate/entity social responsibility. Even understanding what “social responsibility” is in this context has a divergent path. For the purposes of this discussion, it can be described as “Doing Good While Also Making Money And Protecting Owner Interests.” This demonstrates the potential conflict – should an investor in a business entity (the owner) look to the entity to “do good” or merely to comply with legal requirements (do not pollute; do not violate the law) while making money for the owners (profit maximization). Should the owner have a say in the business entity’s choices?Should an entity selling t-shirts worry about the workers in Bangladesh? Should an entity selling coffee worry about how it is grown and harvested? Should an entity selling beef burritos worry about how the cattle are slaughtered?The legal landscape in which these questions must be considered has changed dramatically in the last five years. Consumer attitudes toward many of these issues have also changed. Some businesses are now extolling their social responsibility, while others apparently continue to consider that to be a secondary consideration, at best. Citizens United v. Federal Election Comm’n interprets the Constitution to give business entities the right of free speech in political campaigns a manner that is not necessarily answerable to the owners. Has Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. done similarly for social responsibility and business philanthropy?The current paper has been updated to include a discussion of the first public benefit corporation to file a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 -- and the excellent disclosure that Laureate Education, Inc., explaining the potential impact of its public benefit corporation election and consideration of alternative constituencies may have on shareholder wealth maximization.

Referral outcomes of individuals identified at high risk of cardiovascular disease by community health workers in Bangladesh, Guatemala, Mexico, and South Africa

BackgroundWe have found that community health workers (CHWs) with appropriate training are able to accurately identify people at high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in the community who would benefit from the introduction of preventative management, in Bangladesh, Guatemala, Mexico, and South Africa. This paper examines the attendance pattern for those individuals who were so identified and referred to a health care facility for further assessment and management.DesignPatient records from the health centres in each site were reviewed for data on diagnoses made and treatment commenced. Reasons for non-attendance were sought from participants who had not attended after being referred. Qualitative data were collected from study coordinators regarding their experiences in obtaining the records and conducting the record reviews. The perspectives of CHWs and community members, who were screened, were also obtained.ResultsThirty-seven percent (96/263) of those referred attended follow-up: 36 of 52 (69%) were urgent and 60 of 211 (28.4%) were non-urgent referrals. A diagnosis of hypertension (HTN) was made in 69% of urgent referrals and 37% of non-urgent referrals with treatment instituted in all cases. Reasons for non-attendance included limited self-perception of risk, associated costs, health system obstacles, and lack of trust in CHWs to conduct CVD risk assessments and to refer community members into the health system.ConclusionsThe existing barriers to referral in the health care systems negatively impact the gains to be had through screening by training CHWs in the use of a simple risk assessment tool. The new diagnoses of HTN and commencement on treatment in those that attended referrals underscores the value of having persons at the highest risk identified in the community setting and referred to a clinic for further evaluation and treatment.

Prevalence and risk factors for PTSD in injured workers in Bangladesh: a study of surviving workers from the Rana Plaza building collapse

Abstract Background Bangladesh is the second largest garment-exporting country in the world, and the garment production industry is the largest manufacturing sector of its economy. Workers in this industry often have dangerous workplace conditions. As a result of a factory collapse at Rana Plaza in Savar in April, 2013, 1134 people died and about 2515 were injured. Survivors of this disaster have physical and mental health sequelae, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of PTSD, and risk factors associated with its development, in survivors of the Rana Plaza collapse. Methods We recruited participants using patient records from the Centre of Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in Savar, where many workers received care after the disaster. Between April 22 and May 22, 2014, we administered the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Specific version, and the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS), each of which had been translated into Bengali by CRP's research department. Local translators aided with communication and administration of the surveys and consent was obtained from the participants. Travel expenses of the participants were reimbursed. Findings We contacted 183 patients, and all but two participated. During analysis of prevalence, χ 2 test and logistical regression models were used. The prevalence of PTSD was 75·69% using the PTSD checklist list cut-off of 45. In our multivariable logistical regression, two factors were found to be significant after adjustment of confounding variables: being female (OR 1·32 [95% CI 0·36–4·85]; p=0·042), and having sustained concussion injuries (3·43 [1·15–10·27] p=0·021). In addition, WHODAS mean value for the PTSD group was 1·20 times higher than that for the non-PTSD group (1·10–1·31; p Interpretation In Bangladesh, there are limited resources available to provide physical and mental help for injured and disabled individuals making it difficult for them to obtain the right and timely care that they need. These data could aid in early identification of people who may need additional support after workplace accidents. Finally, training for professionals in treating PTSD cases is needed. Although our results suggest that the severity of injury is related to PTSD development, longitudinal studies are needed to determine if injury severity is correlated to retention of PTSD over time. Our sample had a larger proportion of male workers than that in the injured Rana Plaza population. This finding could be because men seek out medical care more frequently or because they have a greater cultural capacity to access treatment. With most participants screening positive for PTSD, it is important to consider mental health outcomes after such disasters in developing countries. Funding Travel expenses of participants were covered by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbei. Taylor Fitch and Gabriela Villanueva both received travel grants from UTHSCSA for airfare and lodging.