Sweatshops in Bangladesh

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Sweatshops in Bangladesh

Country: Bangladesh | Partner: NGWF

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

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

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.

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 (NGWF) 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.

War on Want gratefully acknowledges funding for this programme from the Civil Society Fund of Irish Aid, the Government of Ireland’s programme of assistance to developing countries.