Bangladesh: in Search of Solution of Unrest in Garments Industry
Bangladesh: In Search of Solution of Unrest in Garments Industry
Introduction :
Bangladesh is an underdeveloped country. Country’s major industry and its main foreign exchange earner sector is Ready Made Garments (RMG) industry. It accounted for about 80% of the total share of exports and earned $12.7 billion in 2008-09. This was about 14 % of the country's GDP. Since 2006 Bangladesh is suffering from
The industry owners and political leaders initially tried to sweep the grievance s of labour under the carpet by floating various conspiracy theories. But the problem has refused to die down as its roots lie within the industry and in the exploitation of labour.
Garment Industry of Bangladesh Bangladesh earns nearly $7 billion a year by exporting textile products, mainly to Europe and the United States. This is about 70 percent of total export earnings of the country. The RMG industry has around 4,500 units across the country. The wages of the 4 million RMG workers working in 4,500 factories - 85% are the majority of whom are young, poor and illiterate women - were recently confirmed as remaining the lowest salaries in the world. The factories employ about 40 per cent of the country's industrial workforce.
It employs around 2.5 million workers, 90 percent of whom are poor women. Whenever the country is criticized for its high level of corruption and confrontational politics, its garment industry is held up as a success story.
Dark Side of the Garment Industry
This most flourishing industry of Bangladesh has its dark side. A large number of the units are located in dilapidated buildings. The industry leaders unite together to get support and benefits from the government, but they are not equally willing to look after the welfare of workers. In the RMG industry in several places in Bangladesh workers are paid their salaries two months late. Overtime is imposed and in some cases not rewarded. The rising inflation has reduced the value of wages. But the
Introduction :
Bangladesh is an underdeveloped country. Country’s major industry and its main foreign exchange earner sector is Ready Made Garments (RMG) industry. It accounted for about 80% of the total share of exports and earned $12.7 billion in 2008-09. This was about 14 % of the country's GDP. Since 2006 Bangladesh is suffering from
The industry owners and political leaders initially tried to sweep the grievance s of labour under the carpet by floating various conspiracy theories. But the problem has refused to die down as its roots lie within the industry and in the exploitation of labour.
Garment Industry of Bangladesh Bangladesh earns nearly $7 billion a year by exporting textile products, mainly to Europe and the United States. This is about 70 percent of total export earnings of the country. The RMG industry has around 4,500 units across the country. The wages of the 4 million RMG workers working in 4,500 factories - 85% are the majority of whom are young, poor and illiterate women - were recently confirmed as remaining the lowest salaries in the world. The factories employ about 40 per cent of the country's industrial workforce.
It employs around 2.5 million workers, 90 percent of whom are poor women. Whenever the country is criticized for its high level of corruption and confrontational politics, its garment industry is held up as a success story.
Dark Side of the Garment Industry
This most flourishing industry of Bangladesh has its dark side. A large number of the units are located in dilapidated buildings. The industry leaders unite together to get support and benefits from the government, but they are not equally willing to look after the welfare of workers. In the RMG industry in several places in Bangladesh workers are paid their salaries two months late. Overtime is imposed and in some cases not rewarded. The rising inflation has reduced the value of wages. But the