Sweatshops & Plantations

Union of Bangladeshi Garment Workers

Bangladesh National Garment Workers' Federation (NGWF)

In Bangladesh 1.5 million jobs are directly dependent on export-oriented textile and garments industries producing goods for mostly European and North American markets. However, the wealth created by the garment sector has had little effect on improving the lives of ordinary women workers and their families.

NGWF's Aims

To train garment workers to protect their rights in an increasingly unstable industry
To contribute to public policy formulation to ensure that the needs of garment workers are recognised
To engage with the government on issues such as the impact of future trade agreements and to represent one of the most marginalized groups (garment workers) in the country

In Bangladesh the national minimum wage is around $20 a month, but unskilled workers in the garment sector receive a mere 800 taka a month, about $14. Many are forced to work 14 – 16 hours a day, and in some cases throughout the night. In many cases workers are not paid on time and may have to wait up to two months to receive their pay cheques. The management of garment factories rarely allows unions to be formed, which is their legal right according to the ILO.

The National Garment Workers' Federation works with exploited garment sector workers throughout Bangladesh. Through campaigning and education programmes, NGWF aims to ensure that workers receive fair wages and are aware of their basic rights. NGWF’s work with government and employers is leading to improvements in the working conditions and environment of factories in Bangladesh.

NGWF's successes

40,000 copies of a labour handbook with information about garment workers' rights, the labour code, and codes of conduct was produced and distributed amongst garment workers
Workers trained to recognise when their rights are violated and pursue appropriate channels
Research undertaken and shared with government representatives into trade and employment and improving market access for Bangladesh exports, both for garments and other products

The Facts

1.5 million jobs are dependent on the textile industry and ore than 80% of the workforce are women between 14 and 29 years of age
The textile industry is Bangladesh's biggest foreign exchange earner, contributing 76% of total export earnings
Twenty-five workers died and 100 were injured in summer 2001 due to a false fire alarm which provoked a lethal stampede
Over 200 workers have died in factory fires in the last decade

War on Want's Sweatshops and Plantations programme
Workers around the world are exploited by the forces of globalisation. Find out what we're doing about it.

TIE Asia
Visit TIE Asia's website to find out more about Bangladesh and NGWF.

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