• Latest
  • Trending

Unless addressed, wages issue will keep troubling Bangladesh’s garment industry

January 19, 2019
Lanka will receive one million doses of AstraZenaca Covishied vaccine this month, government  assures

Lanka will receive one million doses of AstraZenaca Covishied vaccine this month, government assures

March 9, 2021
Malaysia’s 1998 playbook helps Sri Lanka shun IMF for China

Malaysia’s 1998 playbook helps Sri Lanka shun IMF for China

March 9, 2021
WhatsApp

WhatsApp reportedly working on password-protected encrypted chat backups

March 9, 2021
Bitcoin. Image credits - Onov3056

India’s finance minister reconsiders a ban on cryptocurrencies

March 9, 2021
Malala Yousufzai mural in India

Malala partners with Apple to produce dramas, comedies, documentaries

March 9, 2021
Image credits - Free Photos / Pixabay

Tesla loses a third of its value for the third time in a year

March 9, 2021
Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

Science says it’s safe, but some in France don’t trust AstraZeneca vaccine

March 9, 2021
Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

Will the public in Sri Lanka receive the second dosage of vaccines on time?

March 9, 2021
Sri Lanka before it became predominantly Buddhist

Sri Lanka before it became predominantly Buddhist

March 9, 2021
Sri Lanka and China stand shoulder to shoulder at UNHRC

Sri Lanka and China stand shoulder to shoulder at UNHRC

March 8, 2021
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa

Every day should be dedicated to women’s rights – Sri Lankan Prime Minister

March 8, 2021
Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

Pakistan urges world to stop spread of fake Covid-19 vaccines

March 8, 2021
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Lanka will receive one million doses of AstraZenaca Covishied vaccine this month, government  assures

    Lanka will receive one million doses of AstraZenaca Covishied vaccine this month, government assures

    Malaysia’s 1998 playbook helps Sri Lanka shun IMF for China

    Malaysia’s 1998 playbook helps Sri Lanka shun IMF for China

    Bitcoin. Image credits - Onov3056

    India’s finance minister reconsiders a ban on cryptocurrencies

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Will the public in Sri Lanka receive the second dosage of vaccines on time?

    Sri Lanka before it became predominantly Buddhist

    Sri Lanka before it became predominantly Buddhist

    Sri Lanka and China stand shoulder to shoulder at UNHRC

    Sri Lanka and China stand shoulder to shoulder at UNHRC

    Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa

    Every day should be dedicated to women’s rights – Sri Lankan Prime Minister

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Pakistan urges world to stop spread of fake Covid-19 vaccines

    Unless minorities’ issues are addressed, there can be no peace in Myanmar

    Shops and factories closed, sarongs waved as protests intensify in Myanmar

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
    WhatsApp

    WhatsApp reportedly working on password-protected encrypted chat backups

    Malala Yousufzai mural in India

    Malala partners with Apple to produce dramas, comedies, documentaries

    Image credits - Free Photos / Pixabay

    Tesla loses a third of its value for the third time in a year

    Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

    Science says it’s safe, but some in France don’t trust AstraZeneca vaccine

    Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa

    Every day should be dedicated to women’s rights – Sri Lankan Prime Minister

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Pakistan urges world to stop spread of fake Covid-19 vaccines

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    From Pfizer to Moderna: who’s making billions from Covid vaccines?

    Image credits - American Public Power Association / Unsplash

    Space-starved Singapore builds floating solar farms in climate fight

    Image credits - Bryan Turner / Unsplash

    Waiting for Tokyo Olympics: How 110,000 Olympic volunteers put their lives on hold

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Malala Yousufzai mural in India

    Malala partners with Apple to produce dramas, comedies, documentaries

    Image credits - Gamer.lk

    E-Sports a key strategic pillar of national sports council sports strategy in Sri Lanka

    Image credits - Glenn Carstens-Peters / Unsplash

    ‘They show porn’: India’s top court favours controls on web shows

    Image credits - Joe Shlabotnik / Flickr

    Key winners at the 2021 Golden Globes

    Image credits - Gage Skidmore

    Chadwick Boseman Wins Best Actor at 2021 Golden Globes for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    The film, a tale of an adolescent boy fighting human-eating demons, has amassed $313 million since opening on Oct. 16. © Koyoharu Gotoge/Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

    Japan anime movie ‘Demon Slayer’ lands in US cinemas

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Image credits - Steven Cordes / Unsplash

    Gotta catch ’em all: Pandemic sends prices soaring for Pokemon cards

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Lanka will receive one million doses of AstraZenaca Covishied vaccine this month, government  assures

    Lanka will receive one million doses of AstraZenaca Covishied vaccine this month, government assures

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    COVID-19 vaccine confidence grows as side effect worries fade

    Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

    Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

    Image credits - Neven Krcmarek / Unsplash

    Maezawa wants you: Japan billionaire seeks ‘crew’ for moon trip

    Image credits - Mark Paton / Unsplash

    One in four people will have hearing problems by 2050: WHO

    Disciplined societies may have tackled COVID better, but there is a downside in all

    China, U.S. should lift COVID-19 travel bans if herd immunity reached, Chinese epidemiologist says

    Image credits - Slash Gear

    Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    WhatsApp

    WhatsApp reportedly working on password-protected encrypted chat backups

    Image credits - Claudio Schwarz / Unsplash

    Twitter may let users charge their followers for special access

    Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

    China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - Nicole de Andrade

    Tech Tips: Signal lets users create groups with up to 1000 members, here is how to create one

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Lanka will receive one million doses of AstraZenaca Covishied vaccine this month, government  assures

    Lanka will receive one million doses of AstraZenaca Covishied vaccine this month, government assures

    Malaysia’s 1998 playbook helps Sri Lanka shun IMF for China

    Malaysia’s 1998 playbook helps Sri Lanka shun IMF for China

    Bitcoin. Image credits - Onov3056

    India’s finance minister reconsiders a ban on cryptocurrencies

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Will the public in Sri Lanka receive the second dosage of vaccines on time?

    Sri Lanka before it became predominantly Buddhist

    Sri Lanka before it became predominantly Buddhist

    Sri Lanka and China stand shoulder to shoulder at UNHRC

    Sri Lanka and China stand shoulder to shoulder at UNHRC

    Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa

    Every day should be dedicated to women’s rights – Sri Lankan Prime Minister

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Pakistan urges world to stop spread of fake Covid-19 vaccines

    Unless minorities’ issues are addressed, there can be no peace in Myanmar

    Shops and factories closed, sarongs waved as protests intensify in Myanmar

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
    WhatsApp

    WhatsApp reportedly working on password-protected encrypted chat backups

    Malala Yousufzai mural in India

    Malala partners with Apple to produce dramas, comedies, documentaries

    Image credits - Free Photos / Pixabay

    Tesla loses a third of its value for the third time in a year

    Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

    Science says it’s safe, but some in France don’t trust AstraZeneca vaccine

    Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa

    Every day should be dedicated to women’s rights – Sri Lankan Prime Minister

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Pakistan urges world to stop spread of fake Covid-19 vaccines

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    From Pfizer to Moderna: who’s making billions from Covid vaccines?

    Image credits - American Public Power Association / Unsplash

    Space-starved Singapore builds floating solar farms in climate fight

    Image credits - Bryan Turner / Unsplash

    Waiting for Tokyo Olympics: How 110,000 Olympic volunteers put their lives on hold

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Malala Yousufzai mural in India

    Malala partners with Apple to produce dramas, comedies, documentaries

    Image credits - Gamer.lk

    E-Sports a key strategic pillar of national sports council sports strategy in Sri Lanka

    Image credits - Glenn Carstens-Peters / Unsplash

    ‘They show porn’: India’s top court favours controls on web shows

    Image credits - Joe Shlabotnik / Flickr

    Key winners at the 2021 Golden Globes

    Image credits - Gage Skidmore

    Chadwick Boseman Wins Best Actor at 2021 Golden Globes for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    The film, a tale of an adolescent boy fighting human-eating demons, has amassed $313 million since opening on Oct. 16. © Koyoharu Gotoge/Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

    Japan anime movie ‘Demon Slayer’ lands in US cinemas

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Image credits - Steven Cordes / Unsplash

    Gotta catch ’em all: Pandemic sends prices soaring for Pokemon cards

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Lanka will receive one million doses of AstraZenaca Covishied vaccine this month, government  assures

    Lanka will receive one million doses of AstraZenaca Covishied vaccine this month, government assures

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    COVID-19 vaccine confidence grows as side effect worries fade

    Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

    Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

    Image credits - Neven Krcmarek / Unsplash

    Maezawa wants you: Japan billionaire seeks ‘crew’ for moon trip

    Image credits - Mark Paton / Unsplash

    One in four people will have hearing problems by 2050: WHO

    Disciplined societies may have tackled COVID better, but there is a downside in all

    China, U.S. should lift COVID-19 travel bans if herd immunity reached, Chinese epidemiologist says

    Image credits - Slash Gear

    Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    WhatsApp

    WhatsApp reportedly working on password-protected encrypted chat backups

    Image credits - Claudio Schwarz / Unsplash

    Twitter may let users charge their followers for special access

    Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

    China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - Nicole de Andrade

    Tech Tips: Signal lets users create groups with up to 1000 members, here is how to create one

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
No Result
View All Result
Home Around South Asia Bangladesh

Unless addressed, wages issue will keep troubling Bangladesh’s garment industry

Editor by Editor
January 19, 2019
in Bangladesh, Business, Top Story
Reading Time: 5min read
2 0
26
SHARES
Share on WhatsApp

By P.K.Balachandran/DailyFT

The recent week-long mass protests by Bangladesh’s garment workers came to an end after an upward revision of wages for six classes of workers. But even after the upward revision, the Bangladeshi garment worker gets less than what workers in comparable countries do.

Therefore, unless the wages issue is addressed in earnest, and with a long-term perspective, it will continue to torment the country’s single largest foreign exchange earner which is presently raking in over US$ 27 billion a year.

However, wages are not the only issue facing the industry. Overall working conditions are appalling, reports say.  Productivity is low. Poor infrastructure has led to horrendous accidents as in 2012 and 2013. And given the callous attitude of the managements, the unions and the government, there is no guarantee that such things will not recur.

Even as the number of garment factories grew exponentially from 384 in 1983 to 4328 in 2016, and to be almost 5000 now, productivity fell to US$ 0.22 per hour in 2017, says Tariq Adnan inwww.omicsonline.org.

Dilapidated conditions and inadequate infrastructure led to the death of 200 workers at the Tasreen garment factory in 2012, and 1134 died in the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013, in which an eight-floor building collapsed.

Wage Increases

After the recent week-long strike, the “gross wage” in respect of Grades 1 to 6 went up.  In Grade 1, the raise was from Tk.17,510 to Tk,18,257 (US$ 209.3 to 218.6). In Grade 6, it went up from Tk.8405 to Tk.8420 (US$ 100.4 to US$ 100.66).

The “basic wage” in Grade 1 went up from Tk.10,440 (US$ 124.8) in 2018 to Tk.10,938 (US$ 130.7) in 2019. In the case of Grade 6, the hike was from Tk.4370 (US$ 52.2) to Tk.4380 (US$ 52.3).

But still, these wages are among the lowest in the world of garment manufacturing. According to ILO’s figures for 2013, the average monthly wage of a garment worker in India was US$ 71; in Vietnam it was US$ 78; in Cambodia US$ 80; in Indonesia US$ 84 and in Malaysia US$ 247. But in Bangladesh it was US$ 68.

According to Tariq Adnan, a Bangladeshi has to earn at least US$ 314 per month to house, clothe and feed a family of five. But even the top most Bangladeshi garment factory worker earns only US$ 218 per month.

And if a five-member family is to get the right amount of nutrition and calories,  it has to spend US$ 435 on food alone. But as of now, an average worker’s family spends only US$ 168 on food. Adnan’s survey found that 70% of the garment workers complained that they had no savings.

Despite low productivity per worker, Bangladesh is the second largest garment exporter in the world catering to up-market outlets in the EU and US. This is because of its low wages. With massive profits guaranteed, many entrepreneurs have invaded the apparel sector and put up factories often breaking rules.

Hunger for profits makes managements exploit helpless female workers who comprise 80% of the workforce. Shanjida Shahab Uddin, writing in www.southasiajournal.net  in 2015 said that women workers in the Ready Made Garment (RMG) industry had to face severe health-related complications due to unsafe factory conditions;  stringent rules; frequent overtime work along with daily long working hours; and the absence of maternity leave.,

“ According to Bangladeshi law, workers are supposed to work an eight-hour shift. However, garment workers are forced to work extra hours on a daily basis in order to meet production targets set by factory owners. Research shows that around 80% of women workers leave the factory between 8 pm and 10pm after starting work at 8 am, violating Bangladeshi labor laws which state that under no circumstances should daily working hours exceed 10 hours,” Shahab Uddin pointed out.

“The worst part is that, after doing overtime, women workers often remain unpaid. Factory owners cut their overtime payment whenever they want. Female workers are cheated more often than men, as they are seen as quieter and less likely to complain. It is also noticed that only a small number of the workers receive letters of appointment, while most of them carry only a factory identity card,” she added.

Most of the factory owners do not follow the 2006 Bangladesh Labour Law, which protects the right to maternity leave.

“In 2011, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh announced that maternity leave would be extended to six months, but it remains unclear whether this will be implemented outside the civil service. Factory owners set various types of maternity leave provisions but these were not favorable to women workers.”

“A worse consequence is that most of the time, women workers have to lose their job after giving birth. In some factories, the owner accepts women workers returning to work after giving birth but they have to work at a lower grade. They cannot work at their previous grade.”

“Another inhuman practice which impacts most of the women workers is that many of them are forced to work during the final stages of pregnancy to meet the production targets which seriously hampers the health of both mother and child,” Shahab Uddin noted.

“Long working days along with frequent overtime work destroys necessary rest periods. It creates hurdles for necessary domestic work. Most of the time women workers have to go to their home late at night and again come back to the factory for work early the next morning. It puts a great load on them as they have to complete their household chores within a very short time.”

“Naturally, these excessive pressures have had an adverse impact on women workers’ health and mental stability. Women workers reported concerns over long periods of separation from their children, particularly women with young children who are being breastfed,” the writer noted.

Weak Trade Unions

One of the reasons for the garment workers’ pitiable plight is the fact that the trade unions in the garment sector are weak and too few in number.

According to The Daily Star the latest spell of protests against disparity in wages was not guided by union leaders but was spontaneous. In fact, the workers said that they did not want the union leaders to lead because these leaders were hand in glove with the managements.

Trade unions are not being formed in the sector though the government had brought down the stipulation for union formation from 30% of the workforce to 20%. Managements have discouraged the formation of unions, though it is universally accepted that unions help bring about settlements and do not always cause unrest.

According to www.lawatthemargins.com, unionizing workers in Bangladesh is not an easy task. Trade union organizers say that they get beaten up by the police or the factory hooligans.

The high profile murder of labor leader  Aminul Islam in 2012 (allegedly by the National Security Intelligence Agency of Bangladesh), reveals the severe constraints under which trade unions seek to improve workplace conditions, the website said.

 

 

 

SendShare25Tweet1ShareShare
Editor

Editor

Recommended Articles

  • All
  • Recommend
Malaysia’s 1998 playbook helps Sri Lanka shun IMF for China

Malaysia’s 1998 playbook helps Sri Lanka shun IMF for China

March 9, 2021
Lankan women gain recognition but gender equality is still a far cry

Lankan women gain recognition but gender equality is still a far cry

March 8, 2021
Colombo Port workers union opposes foreign involvement in the West Container Terminal

Colombo Port workers union opposes foreign involvement in the West Container Terminal

March 7, 2021
Review of ‘Capturing Cricket – Steve Waugh in India’:  Journey of a Waugh photographer

Review of ‘Capturing Cricket – Steve Waugh in India’: Journey of a Waugh photographer

March 6, 2021
Thrills and perils in being an honest and competent Revenue Intelligence officer

Thrills and perils in being an honest and competent Revenue Intelligence officer

March 6, 2021
Rich countries having  only 16% of the world’s population, took 60% of vaccine doses

Rich countries having only 16% of the world’s population, took 60% of vaccine doses

March 5, 2021

Advertorial

  • All
  • Advertorial
Visual and Textual Analysis for Images with Reverse Search Tools

Visual and Textual Analysis for Images with Reverse Search Tools

January 3, 2021

Popular Now

  • Thrills and perils in being an honest and competent Revenue Intelligence officer

    Thrills and perils in being an honest and competent Revenue Intelligence officer

    196 shares
    Share 174 Tweet 9
  • Lankan Tamil businessman floats “Sri Lanka BJP” aimed at socio-economic development of all

    24 shares
    Share 13 Tweet 5
  • Lanka takes three crucial decisions to garner Indian and Muslim support in UNHRC

    35 shares
    Share 26 Tweet 4
  • Rich countries having only 16% of the world’s population, took 60% of vaccine doses

    30 shares
    Share 21 Tweet 4
  • Tokyo asks China to stop anal swab tests for COVID-19 on Japanese citizens

    22 shares
    Share 14 Tweet 4
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2020 NewsIn.Asia - Lovingly maintained by DigitalArc.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • Around The World
  • Breaking News
  • Business
    • Exchange
  • Climate Change
  • Governance
    • Crime
    • Diplomacy
    • Defense
    • Human Rights
    • Politics
    • Strategic Affairs
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertainment
      • Arts
      • Cinema
      • Gaming
      • Music
      • Movie
      • Series
      • TV
    • Health
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
  • Culture
    • Ethnicity
    • Gender
  • Development news
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • History
  • National
  • Offbeat
    • Media
    • Music and arts across South Asia
  • Recommended
    • Headlines
    • Highlights
    • Top Picture
    • Top Story
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Cricket
      • LPL
      • IPL
    • Tennis
    • Formula 1
    • NBA
  • Tech
    • Instagram
  • United Nations
  • Weather
  • World
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States

© 2020 NewsIn.Asia - Lovingly maintained by DigitalArc.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In