Assignment Point
Submitted by
WWW.
Readymade garment industries are playing an important role in our national economic life. Although Bangladesh is not developed in industry, it has been enriched in Garment industries in the recent past years. In the field of Industrialization, garment industry is a promising step. It has given the opportunity of employment to millions of unemployed, especially innumerable uneducated women of the country. It is making significant contribution in the field of our export income. Once upon a time the cloth of Bangladesh achieved worldwide fame. Muslin and Jamdani clothes of our country were used as the luxurious dress of the royal figures in Europe and other countries.
In the sixties when Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan, the domestic market for ready-to-wear garment began developing, particularly in the then West Pakistan. A number of small family firms produced basic shirts for domestic markets. At that time domestic market for RMG in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) was much smaller than what was in West Pakistan. The growth and development of RMG industry in Bangladesh have a distinctive feature. In most countries, particularly in the developed, including UK and other European countries, and USA, Canada, and Japan, not only textile but also apparel industry was developed in response to domestic demand. But in case of Bangladesh, domestic demand was too little to attract large scale investment. It was the external force, the urge of the high-wage countries to relocate production facilities in the low wage countries that created an environment congenial to the growth and development of RMG industry in Bangladesh. It was primarily due to the migratory nature of the RMG industry, moving from high-wage to low wage countries, that the industry saw its development in Bangladesh. The industry is highly globalizing (Siddiqi, 2003:63).
Now–a–days Readymade Garment (RMG) is the leading sector of Bangladesh in terms of employment, production and foreign exchange earnings. Readymade Garment (RMG) alone earned about 78% of the yearly foreign exchange earning of the country. About 3.5 million people are employed in the garment-manufacturing sector. The growth rate of RMG export was 20% over the last two decades.
Growth of the industry and Employment
[pic]
Source: BGMEA, October 02, 2010
It is on record that in 1983-84, garment export was worth $31.57 million which was 3.89% of the total export of Bangladesh. Because of the coming forward of private sector banks; the garment industry started growing rapidly. In 1986-87 garments export was worth $298.67 million, which was 27.74% of the then total export; and in the past financial year 2009-10 garments export was worth $12.35 billion (in Bangladeshi currency Taka 864.50 billion) which is 79.33% of total export. In the financial year 2008-09 the GDP of Bangladesh was Taka 6149.43 billion of which the contribution of the garments industry was about 10%. According to a survey report of the Department of Textile the total investment in the textile and garments industry was about Taka 406.00 billion (Rahman, 1 August 2010:13).
Dhaka EPZ Investments and Export
|Years |Investment (Million US$) |Export(Million US$) |
|2001-02 |32.01 |466.76 |
|2002-03 |59.14 |554.79 |
|2003-04 |49.36 |667.60 |
|2004-05 |51.35 |757.73 |
|2005-06 |61.57 |918.30 |
|2006-07 |87.46 |1033.03 |
|2007-08 |110.34 |1146.50 |
|2008-09 |30.39 |1190.36 |
|2009-10 |64.38 |1216.49 |
Source: BEPZA, April, 2010
Bangladesh exports their RMG product in more than 20 countries such as USA, UK, Japan, Canada, Belgium, France and Middle-East etc. RMG are main sector in our economy. It creates a big opportunity of our women worker to involve themselves in economic activities. Approximately 160 million people are directly and indirectly related to the garment industry. About 90% women are involved in this sector.
The employment of women in industry has indubitably opened up new vistas of participation for women, shifting their erstwhile predominant concern with household and family. Wage employment in the industry has made them economically independent and their monetary contribution is a substantial addition to household earnings (Devi, 1998:9).
Bangladesh has experienced an extremely rapid growth in urban population. Much of the urban growth is due to migration of the rural poor to the urban areas and it is because of rural poor, the economic problem of mounting unemployment, imbalance capital structures, natural disaster and the hope of happy and luxury livelihood. So they can only asses to the lower class jobs which pay them small amount of salary. Due to small income they are deprived of civil amenities and take shelter in the slums and squatters and lead a misery life.
The employment of women has been given special emphasis due to the widespread poverty prevailing in the country. Moreover, principle has been adopted to integrate women in the main stream of economic development of the country. As a result both GO and NGO employed and engaged them in economic gainful activities. In urban areas a significant development has been growing entry of women in formal industries. The garment industry has provided employment of 69 percent of the women employed in this sector. But still their participation in labour force is far behind than that of men. Besides, they are employed in risky and low wage profession activity (Nahar, 2002).
The employment opportunities created by the RMG industry have saved many families from starvation. The industry employs mostly women/girls. The women/girls working in this industry are individually better off economically; they support their parents and other family members. The RMG industry has substantially contributed to the alleviation of poverty of the group concerned. The members of these families can now buy better food, better clothing, and better medical services and enjoy better life. Before such employment, these girls/women were below the internationally recognized poverty line. Now most of them are perhaps above that line. Participation in gainful employment has empowered some 1.2 million working girls/women economically. Since these working girls are now financially somewhat empowered, they support their families financially; some of them even send their little brothers and sisters to schools. By spending their small income, they create demand for other products that creates multiplier effects on employment and income (Siddiqi, 2003:64)
The garment industry in Bangladesh, as elsewhere, is predominately made up of young women working in the lower tier of employment as helpers and operators. A smaller percentage of workers are males, typically supervisors and quality controllers. Estimates for Bangladesh suggest that between 85% (Kabeer, 1991) and 90% (Rhee, 1990) of the garment industry is comprised of women. The relatively young age structure of the garment industry workforce is also found in this study, where 78% of workers were 24 years old and under. This is further illustrated by the fact that a third of all women entered garment work prior to age 14, while only a quarter entered past age 18. However, despite the perception that garment industry predominantly relies on the very young for its labour force, only a small percentage of garment workers in this study (3%) are below age 14 and nearly two thirds are age 18 above (Majumder,2000:5).
The female workers in the garment sector represent the first wave of mass integration of unskilled women into the formal labour force in Bangladesh. In 2000-2001, 1.8 million workers 90% of them women were employed in 3,480 garment factories. The hard labour of the millions of female workers has also contributed to the foreign earnings and accumulation of wealth in the country. However, the working conditions of the garment workers are one of the worst (Mahtab, 2003:32).
The export oriented garment industry has seemed to create a labour market for women encouraging them to come out from their house, to come out of the evils of poverty. The most remarkable success of the garment industry is the revolutionary change it has brought in the lives of thousands of poor women across the country. Women whose only source of earning was confined to the drudgery of being a domestic help, suddenly found a new way of earning and becoming independent (Mahtab, 2003:33).
In traditionally conservative particular societies like Bangladesh, women have always been neglected in planning policies since their role was decided to be the home only. Although the garment industry has given an economic identity to numerous female workers, but the wage of the female workers is low compared to their male workers. They have to work under fear of being sexually abused by the supervisor. On the other hand they suffer from both physical and psychological stress, tension, anxiety and mental agony (Mahtab, 2003:22).
In July 24, 2010 the garment worker Beauty Akhter, 19, of Vertex Garment Ltd was found dead on the road in front of the eight story factory building at Kalwala para. A number of protesting workers alleged Jharna Begum, line in charge of the factory, was one of the five employees who killed Beauty following a quarrel between Jharna and the girl (The Daily Star, 2010:1).
The present Govt. of Bangladesh said garment factory owners don’t want to give wages to workers as per their requirements but her government is mediating to ensure minimum wage for the workers. The Govt. said the wages the owners of the readymade garment units pay their workers are not only “insufficient” but also “inhumane” and It is simply impossible for them even to live from hand to mouth in the capital with the wages they are given (The Daily Star, 2010:1).
Before mid 2010 the wage structure of the workers was not sufficient for their livelihood. At the same time they usually used to be deprived from their actual salary. Moreover their jobs were of temporary nature as because no appointment letter was given to them. Under this circumstance they used to make demands. As a result of this in 2010 there was a serious outburst of the workers for the increase of salary and settlement of their uncertain employment situation. This gave rise to industrial riot. Responding to this episode when the law enforces agencies responded to this riot some casualties of the workers side occurred.
Under this circumstance the government of the Bangladesh took the responsibility of mediating between the employers and the workers.
The PM of the country also said, “The owners earn a lot of money through this business. Therefore they should pay a portion of the profits to the poor workers so that they could maintain their families (The Daily Star, 2010:1).
According to the settlement of the new wage scale the minimum wage at the entry level has been fixed TK. 3000 from the Previous scale TK. 1662.
But unfortunately galloping rise of essential commodities of livelihood mostly cancelled the benefits. That might have been obtained due to this salary rise.
Year Wise Wage Structure
|years |Wage (per month)TK. |
|1969 |125 |
|1973-74 |155 |
|1994 |930 |
|2006 |1662 |
|2010 |3000 |
Source: Selim, July 22, 2010
In our country women act as key factors in economic system but our planning as we see so far failed to recognize and integrate women’s contribution on the development process. So their vital need for a new approach to development programs that will create avenues for systematically integrating women in all aspects of economic activity. Women represent half of our population, but existing statistics show that women are still lying at the bottom of the ladder in terms of income, status and particularly in employment.
This study aims at finding on the impact of the living condition of the workers due to significant gap between salary rise, job conditions on one hand and increase of the price of the commodity on the other hand.
1.2 Rationale of the study
“Labour is not a commodity but most of the valuable instrument for production” (punckar, 1978:63)
In the globalized world economic, women are playing roles in international, national, local, and household economics, but compared to men they still have a disadvantaged economic position. Women are in the more vulnerable position in the present economic position. They face gender discrimination and unequal rights in the family, religious, and economic life. Since the 1970’s the most notable feature of economic development in many Asian counties has been the employment of young women have in the industrial sector. (Dannecker, 2002).In Bangladesh, women have recently been linked to the global economy. (Mahtab, 2003:19)
At present, large number of women is working in the industrial sector of garment. In Bangladesh, the garment factories alone absorb 3million workers of which 90% are women constituting 70% of the total employment in the manufacturing sector. The garments sector in Bangladesh has provided women with access to wage employment and thus helped to create a new group of industrial workers in the country.
In our country, women are engaged themselves in the sector because of extreme poverty, male unemployment and crisis of the livelihoods. As a result the number of women worker entry into to enhance the economic situation of their family. The pay of the woman was expended: food, rent and the repayment of pressing loans incurred by the household. Many of the women indicated that their money would be spent to educate family members, or to set them up in business, send them abroad, or get them married.
In analyzing the statistics it is seen that the number of working women was 0.8 million in the pre-liberation period which is at present 2.4 million. Due to poor academic qualification and low skill most of them are employed in lower quality jobs, which compel them to be slum dwellers. All most all the women worker, living in the slum areas, is the victims of various obstacles to their working sectors. Their working places are not so problems less like the male. Women worker are the victims of discrimination on all work of their lives. Less wage, insecurity prolonged working hours and harassment is the supreme deterrence in their working place.
As a result the worker sometimes comes forward to the street demanding minimum wage, security and other amenities of lives. In 2010, many unrest situations have taken place in the RMG sector because of low level wage. The wages the owners of the RMG pay their workers are not only insufficient but also inhuman. On the other hand the price of life expenditure is increased day by day. So in this wage worker cannot manage their livelihood. An example is given below;
Garment worker parvin said “we were forced to take the street as the owners exploited us right under the government’s nose. I have to spend TK, 1000 for food and TK, 1500 for house rent. How will I maintain other things with this wage?”
“Moreover, the factory owners want to deprive us of the increased Eid bonus by trying to implement the wage structure from November she added.” (The Daily Star, 2010:15)
In July28, 2010 the government announced a new pay scale for the garment sector. According to the New Wage Structure, the minimum wage at the entry level has been fixed at TK, 3000, up from the present TK, 1662.
This study attempts to know the socio-economic condition of the women worker such as their family structure, condition of living place, environment of working place and security system, what kinds of problem they are facing working place and how they can manage their daily life expenditure in new pay scale etc. Because women worker are play important role in our national income. So we should know their socio-economic condition in the present situation.
Women worker in the garment sector in Dhaka city are the integral segment of our total labour force and they are contributing much in our national income. So keeping them out of consideration it is not possible for the whole country o be developed. It is expected that the present study will contribute a lot to find out the real condition of the women worker after announced the new labour law in the garment sector and to adopt programmers necessary for the welfare of them. In fine this research findings can play a significant role later on to perform any of such kind of operation.
1.3 Objectives of the study
The main objective: This study attempts to identify the impact of government policy on changing socio-economic condition of the women worker in the readymade garments industry in Dhaka city.
General objectives
1. To know the demographic condition of the women worker in the RMG
2. To know the nature of the work , working hours and salary level
3. To assess the problem they are facing in their working place
4. To know the impact of new wage structure in the RMG worker
5. To know about the safety arrangement and other facilities of given to the RMG industries.
1.4 Definition of key concepts used in the study
The study involves some key concepts as every social research does. It includes readymade garments industry, women worker, and socio-economic condition. These key concepts have been explained below:
Readymade garments industry: In this study readymade garment mean those garments directly export their product in foreign countries.
Socio-Economic condition: In this study socio-economic condition means their family structure, educational status, health, quality of living place and financial situation etc.
Women worker: Here the term women worker includes all the women who are working in readymade garments industry irrespective of caste creed and colour.
1.5 Methodology of the study
Research methodology includes the following areas such as
Basic method
The present study is a sample survey based on interview & structured questionnaire.
Area of the study
The study will cover whole Bangladesh. But considering the practical constrains and limitation respect to fund, time and sustainability of some other matters like geographic location of the readymade garment industry and women worker, designed samples have been taken for particular areas of Dhaka city ( such as Saver, Fullbaria, Ulial, Karanpara, Jahangirnagar ) on the availability of women worker. Among the garment factories of the area five garments are selected purposively. These are as follows:
1. KIMS CORPORATION LTD.
2. DOEL GROUP OF INDUSTRY
3. Al-Muslim Group
4. Biswas Group
5. Al-Islam Group
Population of the study & unit of analysis
The population of the study consists of all the women workers between the ages of 18 to 40, engaged in readymade garments industry where each worker will be considered as a unit of analysis.
Sampling
The present study is based on sample survey and respondent collect purposively. Out of the total population of these RMG industries, because of the limited of time, money and access only 105 workers are selected purposively and accidental sampling techniques where female and male are 95 and 10 respectively.
Techniques of data collection
To collect data formal interview and observation techniques are used. Questionnaire is set up for the garment administrator as for as the garment workers. After preparing structured questionnaire both open-ended and close-ended questionnaire data collected by using direct observation and interview techniques. Pre-testing has been done on 10 workers. Case study will be done three garment workers.
Data processing and analysis
After collecting the data it is edited purposively. Data is the classified according tabulation, Uni-variate, Bi-variate and Multivariate table analysis have done. Processed data in analyzed by the help of simple statistical method. Computer technology is used for data processing and analysis of data; it is properly interpreted in language.
1.6 Limitations of the study
Research is a complex, complicated and ransacking activity based on scientific knowledge and competence. Every research area is a new world encountered with various problem requiring, perhaps, new thinking and understanding. The present study entitled “A study of the impact of government policy on changing the socio-economic condition of the women worker in the RMG industry” has been conducted to reveal the real scenario of the women worker in the RMG industry. Some problems and limitations are therefore inevitable in the way of conducting such a mammoth task. As an apprentice, the research, however, tired his best to conduct the study being free from personal bias. The problems and limitation occurred during the investigation are furnished below
* As an optional subject, thesis is assigned among some selected number of student of MSS final year of Institute of Social Work and Research, University of Dhaka. The investigator had to complete it in complies with courses within a short spell of time. Therefore, some problems were inevitable due to time constrains.
* Sampling technique has been applied to carry out the investigation. Garment industries have been selected in purposive sampling basis and the respondents were chosen in purposive and accidental sampling basis. So, it may not represent the whole.
* All of the respondents were garment workers. They did not have enough time to participation in the long time conversation. So it was not possible in all cases to dip in the very deep of the events.
* It was not possible to select a large number of respondents for data collection. Since the investigator himself was engaged in data collection and had to engage in most of his in the academic purpose, it created some hindrances during the time of data collection.
* A tendency was seen among the respondents to conceal their sensitive information.
* Language barrier also arose during the time of discussion. So the investigator had to communicate in their own language as far as possible. That is way; the investigator may be biased with the investigators personal values and believes.
* It was very difficult to collect information from the part of the respondents because they had no experience regarding the structured questionnaire.
* As the study includes in the curriculum, the investigator had to bear the all amount of expenditure, which did not ensure the proper implementation of the study.
* The questionnaire was pre tested, but some inconsistency was seen later while to the investigation. It was thought that being more careful it also could be development.
* In some cases it was not possible to enter into the observing groups. The question of acceptance arose. So the investigator failed to observe the situation from very close.
* Controlling was impossible in some cases to collect information. Different extraneous elements influenced the environment.
* Last of all, some simple statistical methods were applied in data analysis and data interpretation. Situation did not permit the investigator to use the more advanced methodological approaches of statistics.
* In fine, the research was carried out in new field of knowledge. Besides the limitation it can be the first hand data for the researcher who will carry out similar type of investigation in future.
Chapter Two
Review of the Literatures
Introduction
To conduct a research work, it is very much important to review the present study research related reports, books, essays and journals. If the researcher does not have the adequate concept regarding the conducting aspect, it is not possible for him or her to operate the work successfully. Besides, the review of literature avoids the repetition of work. To conduct the present study, as an apprentice, I have studied some relevant reports, books, essays and journals. But in limited time schedule it could not be possible for me to review all the works. Within my limitations, I intend to present some of these in below:
Garment workers in Bangladesh: Economic, Social and Health condition
Salam Chaudhuri Zohir and Pratima Paul Majumder-1996
Introduction
This monograph is an outcome of the Research undertaken by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) at the request of the Ministry of Planning; Government of Bangladesh in 1990.This study focuses the working condition of the workers as well as their socioeconomic backgrounds. During the late, 1980’s garment factories draw attention not only as earners of foreign exchange, but also due to the rush of women workers walking in could appreciate the advent of such social changes. The researchers went beyond and added a gender dimension to it by including both male and female workers in the industry. Besides providing data based on the socio-economic condition of garment workers by gender, the study provides analysis on organizational aspect of the firms and their impact on worker. It has extensive analysis on economic condition, social security and health condition of the workers and status of workers within their families and in the society at large. This study also discusses legal rights of the garment workers as well as opinion of the entrepreneur’s regarding labour laws.
Major findings of the study
The findings of this study generally suggest that the conditions of the female garment workers is not as precarious as often portrayed in news media of the country. It has been found that the socio-economic problems faced by the female workers in the garment industry are the outcome of a number of reasons.
It has been found that, on an average, a garment worker has to work 11-12 hours a day. If shipment has to be done on time, the entrepreneur has no other alternative but to depend on overtime work.
Most garment factories in Bangladesh have been built without any prior plan. As a result, it has been found that about 90 percent of the factories started production in the rented buildings which are not designed for any factory work. The study found that the factory buildings are overcrowded, ventilation was not adequate, staircases were narrow, and roofs are low.
An interesting finding of the study is the garment factories in Dhaka city are now clustered in a number of locations. About 25 percent of the firms are located in the residential areas. Sometimes two factories are set up in the same building. It has found that the workers of the garment factories, situated in the residential areas feel themselves more secured while commuting than those who work in the commercial areas.
About 50 percent of the female workers, on an average, changed at least one factory mainly in search of higher wage and better working conditions. This study found that the average age of the workers was only 21 years; 19 years for the female workers and 24 years for the male workers. About 58 percent of them were unmarried, and 74 percent originated from the rural areas. Very interestingly, it has found that more than 42 percent of the female workers had either mother or sister or brother or spouse in the same factory. This kinship tie, in fact, safeguards the workers against any adverse situation in the factory. It has observed that kinship tie gives them moral support and security.
About 33 percent of the total workers earned below the minimum wage. Of the total workers of sewing and finishing helpers, about 84 percent earned less than the minimum wage of TK.627. These workers accounted for 32 percent of the total workforce.
The most important economic problems reported by the garment workers were the delay and irregularity in the payment of their wages. It has been found in the present study that only 22 percent of the firms paid salary by the first week of a month, while another 68 percent paid by the second week. In about 10 percent of the firms was no fixed timing for wage payment. The average overtime per worker was 81 hours a month.
About 75 percent of the female workers as opposed to 70 percent of the male worker did not get any promotion. More than 60 percent of the workers felt that their jobs were of temporary nature. This was mainly because the garment workers were not given any appointment letter. There was a provision for a yearly increment. But only 55 percent of the workers who have more than one year’s service received an increment. On an average, a female worker received a yearly increment of TK.71 as opposed to TK.110 received by the male workers.
About 59 percent of the workers surveyed were found to be satisfied with their present job. The most popular reason for job satisfaction was that the alternative to working at the garment is to be unemployed. This was expressed by 20% for the workers. The second reason for job satisfaction was good behavior of the management as expressed by 19% f the workers. On the other hand 41 percent of the workers were dissatisfied with their jobs because of low wage and no female supervisors and bad behavior of the management.
Evaluation
Work in the garment industry empowers the female garment workers, both socially and economically. Status of the garment workers in the family has increased as the female workers contribute 46 percent, and the male workers contribute 65 percent of their respective family. Women are now spending their own income. About 37 percent of the female garment workers are primary earners of the family. Working in the garment industry also empowers them to improve their consumption level and housing condition. Work in the garment industry also empowered the unmarried workers as they are now able to decide who to get married to. Some are also saving to pay their own dowry. For the married women workers, the incidence of divorce increases with the length of service at the garment industry and is highest for those serving for 4-6 years. After that, such incidence, however, decreases. Some married workers were able to empower themselves by sharing household work with their husbands.
Enforcement of Safety Regulations in the Garment Sector of Bangladesh
Dr. Nazma Begum- 2003
Introduction
The ready-made garment industry started in the late 1970s as a negligible non-traditional sector of export. It has expended phenomenally in the last 20 years. The rapid expansion of the garment industry has profound social and economic consequences. It is the largest export sector of Bangladesh. The Garment Industry in Bangladesh makes a major contribution to foreign exchange earnings and to women’s gainful employment. According to BGMEA, at present the garment industry employs about three million workers, of whom 90 percent are women. The industry accounts for more than 70 percent of women engaged in format manufacturing in Bangladesh.
To survive and prosper in the global market, the garment industry must be competitive. Competitiveness largely depends on the productivity of the workers, since the garment manufacturing process in Bangladesh is highly labour intensive. Health and productivity of labour are highly correlated. Health refers to both physical and mental health. The garment workers are basically poor. They come from poor families with little education, poor nutrition. They spend a long time in the factories performing monotonous jobs. The working condition of the factories and the health measures provided by the factories are very important for workers, health and there for the productivity of the garment factories.
Similarly, safety conditions in the garment industry are very crucial for workers health and productivity. Workers health is affected by the occurrence of various accidents, like pricking and crushing of fingers, entangling of head scarf with the sewing machine, falling or slipping, electrical shock, road accident etc. Fire accidents, perhaps, affect the garment workers health most. Therefore, the provisions of health and safety measures are very crucial both for the workers health and for the development of the industry itself. This study aims at assessing the cost and benefit of undertaking health and safety measures in the garment industry.
Major findings of the study
The health cost is less than 10 thousand for two surveyed factories. The health cost ranges from 25 thousand to 40 thousand for four factories; from 50 to 75 thousand for four factories; and from 1 lac to1.5 lac for two factories. Only one factory have the health cost above 2 lacs.
This study finds that health cost as s proportion of security is less in small factories than large factories. The small factories are more concerned with safety measure and the health measure. It is true that insufficient safety measures lead to total accidents but insufficient health measures can also act as slow poison for the worker. Therefore, awareness creation among small factories for providing health measures in very important. Even some incentives for small factories at the initial level an enable. The small factories are providing sufficient health measures.
Out of ten surveyed factories, only two factories have transport facility one in the EPZ and the other is in Dhaka city provides transport facility full froe while the factory in the EPZ changes a minimum from the worker.
This survey find out a large quantity of work hours is lost due to the prevalence of illness and diseases among the garment workers. Since the workers mostly do overtime in the working days as well as holidays, sometimes they take 1-2 hours leave for undertaking treatment while they get sick. Fainting during work hour also eases work loss, sometimes workers prick finger, hurt their finger tips or their head scarf is intangible in the sewing machine wheel, other times they are exposed to electric shock etc, because of absence of safety measures. All these result in work loss.
The raw materials used in the garment factories are highly inflammable. The garment is very prone to fine accident. It is one of the greatest dangers both for the workers and employers. Fine accidents cause huge life, property and production loss. It causes panic, repeated and traumas, respiratory ailment on nervousness among the workers. The rate of absenteeism rises. In this survey not a single factory responded about fine accident, three factories mentioned sparking of electric wires for a period of less than one minute followed by a work loss of less than 15 minutes.
Evaluation
This study can use the employer perception about the impact of health and safety measure on the different variables. The most vital and common to all employers was that profit making in their main and ultimate goal and is a vital reason for providing health and safety measures. However, what transpires from the answer is that the employers are providing the health and safety measures not only from ethical or legal of view but mainly from the view point of profitability. Therefore, committing to health and safety is just not the right thing to do ethically or legally, but also the right to do for profit ability.
Occupational Hazards and Health Consequences of the Growth of Garment Industry in Bangladesh
Dr. Pratima Paul Majumder, Junury, 2000
Introduction
Occupational hazards and occupational diseases are widespread in the industrial sector of Bangladesh. The entry and growth of the garment industry in world market render compliance with international trade regulations essential. The competitiveness of this industry in the world market, and even its access to the world market, are highly dependent on safe and secure workplaces since the Final Act at the Ministerial Conference of General Agreement in Tariffs and Trade (GATT), held in April, 1994, in Marrakesh, linked labour standards with international trade policy. Labour standards are greatly affected by occupational hazards resulting from lack of safety and security in workplace. The study attempts to identify the nature and extent of occupational hazards in the garment industry. This study also attempts to identify the impacts of occupational hazards on workers physical and mental health, which in turn would affect the competitiveness of the garment industry in the world market.
Most of the data used in the study have been collected from survey on the health status of the garment workers, conducted by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) during the period between June and September, 1997.
Major findings of the study
This study find out the 37 percent of the garment workers have been suffering from chronic diseases such as gastro-intestinal diseases, blood pressure, anemia, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), eye problem, urinary tract infection, etc. A large number of the female workers (44.3 percent) complained of weakness and tiredness; such deficiencies in physical fitness may result in large- scale depressive symptom logy in them.
Occupational hazards and workplace stress most of the female workers do not like to continue their work in the garment industry. The average length of service is estimated to be only 4 years. Only 5 percent of the workers are found to work in the garment industry continuously for more than 10 years. The majority of the workers are found to work in the garment industry for less than 3 years and more than 20 percent of the workers are very fresh workers who are working in the garment industry only for less than 1 year.
Working condition in the garment factories is very uncongenial. It is mainly because of the fact most factories were establish in rented buildings which were not designed for any manufacturing purpose. It was found that in most surveyed factories, floor space per worker was very small, staircases were narrow and roofs were low.
In respect of measure against fire hazards, there is widespread neglect and non-observance of safety and health legislation. Every factory surveyed was found to have fire extinguishers and buckets with sand. However, the number was not adequate compared to the size of the factory. It was found that there was no trained person to use them. Besides, the workers have never shown how to use an extinguisher. Many a time the fire extinguishers were not tested by the inspectors. There were no drills for evacuating the workers from the factory as a precaution against the outbreak of fire. Fire exits or emergency exits were also absent in most of the multi-storied buildings. This causes rampant fire hazards in the garment factories.
About 67 percent cases of fever, workers were not granted any leave. This study find out that 5 percent of the workers had fever, 9 percent had stomach pain, 4 percent had chest pain and another 6 percent had server cough and cold, but they all continued working. When the management was asked why they were not granted leave for their sickness, the usual reply was that there was a labour shortage.
According to the Maternity Benefit Act of 1950, “an employee must have been employed by the employer from whom she claims maternity benefit for a period not less than 12weeks immediately preceding the day by delivery”. Of the 39 factories surveyed 17 claimed that maternity benefit was given to the workers during 1996. Of these, in only three factories, leave was given with pay and in one whit half pay.
The interesting finding of the study is the positive impact is the enhance consciousness of the workers about health care. More than 27 percent of the workers tried to keep their working health fit by taking quality food like bananas, boiled eggs, milk, etc. 21 percent of the workers drink boiled water where as findings showed that only 2 percent of the slum dwellers drink boiled water More than 6 percent of the garment workers take vitamin tablets regularly.
The survey show that female workers spend, on an average, TK 140 monthly on their health care while the at the national level is only about TK 8. Health expenditure of the garment workers constitutes about 8 percent of their income, while health expenditure constitute less than one percent of the income of the slum dwellers.
Evaluation
The prevalence of occupational diseases and illnesses and mental stress among the garment workers has adverse impact on the workers themselves and also on the competitiveness of the garment industry. At the present level of technological development of the Bangladesh garment manufacturing industry, which remains labour intensive, most of its production performance is dependent on the workers strength and stamina. A healthy worker is more productive than her/his counterparts who constantly suffer from various disease and illnesses. At present a safe and secure workplace gains in importance to survive in the workers, particularly to the female workers, since women are more likely to be subject to occupational hazards than their male counterparts as women hold low skilled jobs where occupational hazards are more severe. Health and safety problems of the garment industry affect its competitiveness not only by reducing the workers labour productive but also by causing a production loss. The survey show that occupational hazards the active working life of the garment workers is shorten.
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)
A Survey on 283 factories
In 1999
Introduction
Accidental firing in read made garment factory is not a new phenomenon. Since the period of growth and development of this sector it has been facing a large number of fire hazards whereas a lot of lives have been caused due to irresponsiveness of the owner of the factory in maintaining condition of workplace security as well as preparedness in combating fire hazard. Moreover due to evasiveness on the part of Fire service and civil defense department and BGMEA in controlling the safety measure in workplace both valuable human resource and wealth has been lost. That’s why in most some cases the threat of industrial fire hazards both for the trade and workers has not been treated with any seriousness. In respond to this view after a series of fires between July and November 1997, the government set up some inquiry committees. In a meeting with the government, BGMEA members were reported to have agreed to comply with safety conditions within 6 months but even after a year the industry was not universally equipped with firefighting equipment, alternative exits and proper lighting arrangements. It also failed to install necessary smoke detectors and fire alarm.
By 1999, some factories had started installing emergency fire stairs, but this is not universal. According to one newspaper report over three fourths of the factories in Chittagong have failed to meet safety requirements (Hossain and Begum, 2000: 192). In order to test how far the BGMEA had kept its commitment to ensure full compliances, Ain o Salish Kendro(ASK) conducted a survey in 283 factories in Dhaka, Gazipur, Nrayanganj, Tongi, and Savar. This also included a few factories in the export-processing zone.
This study had been conducted to assess the installation of safety equipment and to assess workers’ awareness of these regulations.
Major findings of the Study
ASK’s investigations in 191 factories showed a 25% compliance with the requirement of emergency fire stairs. The highest numbers of factories with such exits were in Mirpur and Tejgaon, but at least 50% of factories were located as high as the sixth floor. However the survey of workers on fire prevention measure showed the following results:
• No of fires
Out of 283 factories fire accidents had occurred in 69 factories. In over 50% of these cases, the cause was an electric short circuit. This is generally due to faulty lines, use of cheap wire of inadequate strength and lack of separate switches. In only 8% the fire started from the motor, sewing machine or iron.
• Fire exits
Only 191 factories had alternative exits inside the factory. The width of the stairs in over 59% would allow for only 3 persons. While most of the stairs were made of iron, at least 3 exits consisted of hanging rope stairs, which would make decent particularly perilous in an emergency.
• Fire Training
Out of 1488 workers only 205 had received training and the overwhelming majority of 1283 had not received any training. Only 166 know how to handle fire prevention equipment. It was reported that 242 factories out of 283 offered no training to their workers. The frequency of casualties resulting from fire accidents is a direct consequence of negligence in installing proper facilities and training workers in safety practices.
The lack of awareness and a disciplined system leads to stampedes and workers falling down, being crushed or jumping windows in higher floors. The problem of rescue is aggravated when factories are located in overcrowded or narrow lanes which obstruct the movement of fire fighting trucks and equipment.
Female Garment workers: Economic And social Security
Nazmunnessa Mahtab -2003
Introduction
In the globalized world economy, women worker playing roles in international, national, local and household economies, but compared to men they still have a disadvantaged economic position. Women are in the more vulnerable position in the present economic situation. They face gender discrimination and unequal right in the family, religious, social and economic life. Since the 1970’s, the most notable feature of economic development in many Asian countries has been the employment of young women in the industrial sector. In Bangladesh, women have recently been linked to the global economy. At present, the garment factories in Bangladesh alone absorb 1.5 million workers of which 90% are women constituting almost 70% of the total employment in the manufacturing sector. (BGMEA, 2003) The development of the garment sector together with the mobilization of women workers is a matter of grave concern among the academicians, activities and policy makers.
Major findings of the Study
An analysis of women’s entry into wage employment in Bangladesh clearly indicates the causes of extreme poverty and male unemployment that have forced the women to engage themselves in this sector. The interviews with the female workers show that the girls themselves justify to a large extant the discrimination on socially accepted grounds of male superiority. Almost all the girls stated that superiors have to be men.
The study has found that the female workers in the helper category earn a monthly income of TK.750, while a male worker earns about TK.1750, per month. Thus gender discrimination is applicable in other areas of benefit also.
The female workers interviewed mentioned about the distance they have to maintain with their supervisors during their work. They are always working under fear of being verbally abused or being beaten by the supervisors.
The women working in the garment factories are working under very inhumane conditions. The working conditions are not very congenial. The floor spaces are small, stairways narrow and roofs are very low. Fire hazards in the garment factories become even more dangerous when the employees keep the main factory door locked.
The most adverse impact of women garment workers of Bangladesh is violence against women. They face physical harassment such as obscene language or comments, demeaning remarks to unwelcome touching or grabbing by supervisors or male colleagues. This study shows that unmarried girls working in the garment factories security is the main concern. The country has many stringent laws to combat violence against women, but unfortunately none of the laws are implemented effectively to deal with these cases.
Evaluation
The garment industry in Bangladesh played a prominent role in opening the means of livelihood to poor migrant female labour, presenting an opportunity for waged employment of poor women and promoting other local economic activities. But the female workers are victims of different types of violence and harassment. So the government, the factory and the BGMEA have a moral and social obligation to address the needs of the garment workers, particularly the female workers, who are victims of different types of violence, and also who are displaced due to their loss of jobs. The women workers should seriously consider organizing themselves in order in order to protect their own rights.
Living Conditions of the women workers in the RMG sector in Bangladesh
Syeda Sharmin Absar-1999
Bangladesh presently exports Ready-Made Garment (RMG) to about 30 countries around the world. More women, whether pushed by poverty or pulled by opportunity, work outside home particularly in the RMG sector. The exodus of women to work in urban areas, leaving homes and families, is relatively recent development. Despite the employment opportunities at the garment factories, women workers in Bangladesh suffer from abject poverty. Most of them earn less than a dollar (US) a day. Workers of the multi-billion dollar industry live hand to mouth and often starve along with children. Lack of proper literacy skills is holding them back at work that in turn is contributing to low wages. Problems of industrial work and urban living are compounded by the mere fact that there are not enough affordable housing and transportation facilities for workers on limited wages. How the workers cope with daily expenses on a wage of less than a dollar a day is focus of the study. This study attempts to present the living conditions depicted by the academic literature and juxtapose it against the narratives of the interviewed garment workers in Bangladesh.
Major Findings of the Study
It has been found that women face extreme hardship to meet ends because of low wages and high rental costs. Usually, rent consumes 60% of the monthly wages of a worker.
Only 14 percent of the total workers live in bootees, and the rest live outside bootee. Moreover, relative to men (10 percent), more female workers live in bootees (16 percent). Those living in bootees are subject to unhealthy living environment.
This study show that Women pay US$20 per month for rent for such an accommodation (one room with no private or modern toilet or kitchen) out of their wages ranging between US$13-36 depending on their occupation level.
Evaluation
From women’s narratives and academic literature, it is clear that women workers fight two enemies on two fronts: overall insecurity in life as a woman and poverty. Problems of living conditions affect women workers every day. They face accommodation and transportation problems on a daily basis. In spite of all these problems they are reluctant to unionist. Instead of unionizing themselves in masses, they have asked me to convey their messages to the proper authority so that they can live in better conditions in Dhaka. Their major demands circle around housing, transportation, security and wages. Working mothers with glittering eyes express their hope to offer a better life to their children.
Livelihood pattern of rural women garment workers at Dhaka city
R.N. Ali, F. Begum, M.M. Salehin and K.S. Farid -2008
Introduction
The study was an attempt to analyze the economic, social and health conditions of women garment workers as well as their livelihood pattern. It was found that most of the respondents migrated to Dhaka because of their extreme poverty or insolvency. Few respondents had brought positive changes in their financial capital, decision marking and empowerment etc. The study revealed that 63.33 percent respondent’s livelihood pattern has improved after involving in garment factory. Incidence of physical weakness among the garment workers was very high. Women are exploited easily due to lack of technical knowledge and training. The employers do not pay any heed to this exploitation.
Major Findings of the study
Several factors seemed to be responsible for the migration of rural women for employment in urban garments. The majority (58.9 percent) of the women were migrated for extreme poverty or insolvency. Thus the first reason for migration from rural areas to Dhaka was extreme poverty. The second important factor was search of job. About 19 percent of the respondents were migrated for this reason. The third and fourth important causes identified by the migrants were husband work in Dhaka and educational purposes, respectively.
It reveals that only 12.2 percent of the respondents’ households saving have increased after involving in garment factory while 38.9 percent was opined that no change in their household saving has taken place. The savings of about half (48.9 percent) of the women workers decreased as a result of their involvement in RMG. In case of income, 67.8 percent of the respondents felt that their household income has increased due to increased in income after involving in RMG while 27.8 percent respondents mentioned that no change in income took place.
In order to identify the overall socioeconomic improvement in the livelihood of household, the respondents were asked about their opinion for their overall socioeconomic change that might have taken place due to involving in garment factory. This study reveals that 63.33 percent of the respondents reported that their socio-economic conditions had improved due to involving in garment factory, while 36.67 percent responded no change in their overall socioeconomic condition has taken place after involving in garment factory.
Evaluation
The study was conducted to assess the changing livelihood pattern of women garment workers who move from rural areas to urban garments at Dhaka city. Under the major objective the researchers tried to reveal the reasons of women for involving garment factory, work pattern of respondents in the RMG factory, monthly income by length of service and education category, payment schedule by age category, work hour and overtime rate, changing financial capital, decision making and empowerment and problems faced by women workers inside and outside the garment factory. Findings of the survey showed that 71.1 percent women entered the garment factory to help their family financially. It appeared that about 72 percent female workers got salary in the 1st week of the month. Only 12.2 percent responded that their financial capital like household saving has increased after involving garment factory. Low level of education among the female workers was responsible for most of the socioeconomic problem facing the female workers in the garment industry. Hence, measures need to be adopted to encourage enrollment of girls, especially in secondary education and above, in order to improve their efficiency and reduce gender differential in wages.
Chapter three
Emergence and Growth of the RMG Industry in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a tropical country in South Asia that is situated in the delta of two major rivers that flow down from the Himalayas (the Ganges and the Jamuna). The country’s land surface is therefore largely composed of alluvial silt, rendering the soil highly fertile. Historically, this has made Bangladesh an agricultural nation; although agriculture contributes only about a fifth of the national GDP, it employs three-fifths of the labour force.
Emergence and growth of the export oriented woven and knit-readymade garments (RMG) industry in Bangladesh is possibly one of the rare breakthroughs achieved by the country during two and half decade of its post-independence industrialization efforts. .
After the decline and fall of the jute industry just after liberation – (recent media reports show a hopeful prospect of this industry) – the garment industry now plays a vital role in the economy, starting about a decade or so after the emergence of Bangladesh. Like the jute growers and the jute industrial workers that were once the driving force of the Bangladesh economy, the same role is being played today by the garment industry and its workers, and they are the single largest number of industrial workers in the country. With the toil, sweat and untiring effort of the garment workers, this industry has achieved immense expansion. These workers join this industry with a hope of achieving social security and in search of livelihood. They usually come from the wretched families of rural Bangladesh. These rural families give their children very elementary education up to class one or two for making them eligible to work in the urban based garment industries (Wasif, 2010:13).
The garment industry in Bangladesh became the main export sector and a major source of foreign exchange starting in 1980, and exported about $5 billion USD in 2002. The industry employs about 3 million workers of whom 90% are women. Two non-market factors have played a crucial role in ensuring the garment sector’s continual success namely (a) quotas under Multi- Fiber Arrangement (MFA) in the North American market and (b) preferential market access to European markets (Source: ).
3.1 History
Ready-made Garment[pic]
The ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh is not the outgrowth of traditional economic activities but emerged from economic opportunities perceived by the private sector in the late 1970s. Frustrated by quotas imposed by importing nations, such as the United States, entrepreneurs and managers from other Asian countries set up factories in Bangladesh, benefiting from even lower labor costs than in their home countries, which offset the additional costs of importing all materials to Bangladesh. Bangladesh -origin products met quality standards of customers in North America and Western Europe, and prices were satisfactory. Business flourished right from the start; many owners made back their entire capital investment within a year or two and thereafter continued to realize great profits. Some 85 percent of Bangladeshi production was sold to North American customers, and virtually overnight Bangladesh became the sixth largest supplier to the North American market.
After foreign businesses began building a ready-made garment industry, Bangladeshi capitalists appeared, and a veritable rush of them began to organize companies in Dhaka, Chittagong, and smaller towns, where basic garments--men's and boys' cotton shirts, women's and girls' blouses, shorts, and baby clothes--were cut and assembled, packed, and shipped to customers overseas (mostly in the United States). With virtually no government regulation, the number of firms proliferated; no definitive count was available, but there were probably more than 400 firms by 1985, when the boom was peaking.
After just a few years, the ready-made garment industry employed more than 200,000 people. According to some estimates, about 80 percent were women, never previously in the industrial work force. Many of them were woefully underpaid and worked under harsh conditions. The net benefit to the Bangladeshi economy was only a fraction of export receipts, since virtually all materials used in garment manufacture were imported; practically all the value added in Bangladesh was from labor (Source:).
3.2 Garments Industry in Bangladesh
Like other 3rd world countries Bangladesh is a developing country. Our economic development depends firstly on Agriculture and secondly on Industry.
Although Bangladesh is not developed in industry, it has been enriched in Garment industries in the recent past years. In the field of Industrialization garment industry is a promising step. It has given the opportunity of employment to millions of unemployed, especially innumerable uneducated women of the country. It is making significant contribution in the field of our export income.
History of our cloth Industry
Once upon a time the cloth of Bangladesh achieved worldwide fame. Muslin and Jamdani cloth of our countries were used as the luxurious garments of the royal figures in Europe and other countries. The British rulers in India didn’t develop our cloth industries at all. Rather they destroyed them and imported cloths from England.
The British destroyed the self-reliant textile industry of India. Indeed, before Britain elaborated the dogmas of laissez faire and free trade, it had no qualms in suppressing the import of Indian fabrics which were far superior to anything produced in Britain. In 1720, an Act was passed prohibiting altogether the use of any garment or apparel whatsoever, of any painted, printed or dyed calicoes, in or about any bed, chair, cushion, window curtain, or any other sort of household stuff or furniture. In 1774, a law sanctioned the manufacture of purely cotton goods in Britain, but still prohibited the import of cotton goods. This officially protected the industry from foreign competition. Once the indigenous Indian industry had been ruined, and the factory system was established in Britain, when the colonial power could compel its subject peoples to import Manchester goods, only then were the doctrines of free trade proclaimed ( ).
It is now the objective of the Western powers to ensure that countries like Bangladesh do not adopt the protectionism which proved essential to the effective development of their industry. Globalization institutionalizes unequal development. Perhaps this is one reason why the World Bank maintains what it calls a 'Resident Mission' in Dhaka: to superintend the mechanisms of dominance. Economic, rather than military, forces are more discreet, impersonal and effective.
The Mission produces upbeat reports on poverty-abatement, a kind of ideological pacification programme that will reassure people that 'free markets' which have produced a generation of industrial captives, offer the best - indeed, the sole - hope to the suffering people of Bangladesh. In May 1998, the World Bank Resident Director issued a report stating that the percentage of the very poor fell between 1992 and 1996 from 43% to 36%, while in Dhaka itself the incidence of the very poor is now only 14% ( ).
This conflicts with the experience of the garment workers. All Bangladesh is now an export-processing zone; garments earn two-thirds of the foreign exchange. About 800,000 people work in the garment factories of Dhaka, three-quarters of them women.
If we want to go back to the origin we shall have to start with Riaz Garments which presented its product id est. shirts on behalf of the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1969 to the three astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, and Michel Collins who were invited to this country for successfully completing the first human Moon mission. Afterwards Riaz Garments first exported garments in 1978 to Europe. Since then much water has gone down the river Buriganga, and Riaz Garments is no more (Rahman, 11 July 2010:13).
Garment industries at present Bangladesh
After the emergence of Bangladesh radical change has come to our garment sector. Garment industries started working from the 10's of the late century. At present there are about 3000 garment industries in the country and 75 percent of them are in Dhaka. The rest are in Chittagong and Khulna. These Industries have employed fifty lacks of people and 85 percent of them are illiterate rural women. About 76 percent of our export earning comes from this sector (Source: ).
EXPORT GROWTH YEAR-ON- YEAR
IN PERCENTAGE
|January |34.33 |
|February |43.3 |
|March |40.56 |
|April |45.56 |
|May |47.69 |
|June |40.25 |
|July |28.7 |
|Aught |32.4 |
|September |2.29 |
|October |15.44 |
Source: EPB, The daily Star, November15, 2011
[pic]
Source: EPB, The daily Star, November15, 2011
3.3 Reason of Development
The prime reason why garment industries have come out to be the champion in the field of export is obviously the cheap labor. Labor is not as cheap anywhere in the world as it is in Bangladesh. Women contribute to the working force in these garment factories, as they are relatively cheaper than men. A worker works here long hour’s free or cheap meals. But this has not prevented thousands of women from work. It has given them a steady income, economic independence, self-reliance and dignity, because they are earning their own living and managing their family expenses.
3.4 Garments of Bangladesh in the world-market
Over the last twelve years or so the garments industries have emerged as the largest source of earning foreign currency. About half of the foreign currency from the ready-made garments is earned from European Union and the U.S.A. Besides, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand; Russia etc. also are other garments importing countries. At present about 20 countries of the world are importers of our garments. Its market is being expanded in the Middle East, Russia, Japan, Australia and many other countries.
3.5 Export income of different fiscal years
In 1977-78 fiscal years Bangladesh exported forty thousand shirts in Germany and earned one million U.S. dollar. At the beginning of the 80’s this industry flourished rapidly. In 1983-84 fiscal years the income from garments raised to 6 crores 5 million US dollar. In 1998-99 it became 420 crores U.S. dollar. By 2003-2004 the factories multiplied three times. Simultaneously the export has also increased. The amount of export income in 2003-2004 increased to 568 crores US dollar. Items of exportable garments: Among the garments of Bangladesh are shirt, pajama, jeans-pant, jacket, trouser, hats, laboratory coat, sweater, pullover, jumper, jacket, trousers, gloves, sports dress, nightdress etc (Source: ).
The export earnings of Bangladesh stood at US$ 16,204.65 million in FY 2009-10, which was 4.11 % higher than the export earnings US$ 15,565.19 million of FY 2008-09. The growth of export earnings of Bangladesh is mainly attributable to the increases of export of jute goods, petroleum by products, engineering’s products and agricultural products during the year under report. An analysis of composition of exports of 2009-10 by major categories reveals that the export earnings over the last fiscal year increased mainly for increase of petroleum by products (112.03 percent), engineering’s products (71.55%), and agricultural products (98.18%) Woven garments (1.60%), knitwear (0.84%). The table shows that export growth and composition by commodities (Bangladesh Economic Review, 2010:83).
Export Earnings, Composition and Growth of Export Earnings
|Commodity |Total export earnings (Million US$) |% of total export earnings |Growth rate (%) |
|classification | | | |
| |
|YEAR |EXPORT OF RMG |TOTAL EXPORT OF BANGLADESH |% OF RMG'S TO |
| |(IN MILLION US$) |(IN MILLION US$) |TOTAL EXPORT |
|1983-84 |31.57 |811.00 |3.89 |
|1984-85 |116.2 |934.43 |12.44 |
|1985-86 |131.48 |819.21 |16.05 |
|1986-87 |298.67 |1076.61 |27.74 |
|1987-88 |433.92 |1231.2 |35.24 |
|1988-89 |471.09 |1291.56 |36.47 |
|1989-90 |624.16 |1923.70 |32.45 |
|1990-91 |866.82 |1717.55 |50.47 |
|1991-92 |1182.57 |1993.90 |59.31 |
|1992-93 |1445.02 |2382.89 |60.64 |
|1993-94 |1555.79 |2533.90 |61.40 |
|1994-95 |2228.35 |3472.56 |64.17 |
|1995-96 |2547.13 |3882.42 |65.61 |
|1996-97 |3001.25 |4418.28 |67.93 |
|1997-98 |3781.94 |5161.20 |73.28 |
|1998-99 |4019.98 |5312.86 |75.67 |
|1999-00 |4349.41 |5752.20 |75.61 |
|2000-01 |4859.83 |6467.30 |75.14 |
|2001-02 |4583.75 |5986.09 |76.57 |
|2002-03 |4912.09 |6548.44 |75.01 |
|2003-04 |5686.09 |7602.99 |74.79 |
|2004-05 |6417.67 |8654.52 |74.15 |
|2005-06 |7900.80 |10526.16 |75.06 |
|2006-07 |9211.23 |12177.86 |75.64 |
|2007-08 |10699.80 |14110.80 |75.83 |
|2008-09 |12347.77 |15565.19 |79.33 |
|2009-10 |12496.72 |16204.65 |77.12 |
|2010-11(July-Sep) |3971.52 |5029.05 |78.97 |
|Data Source Export Promotion Bureau Compiled by BGMEA |
|[pic] |
| |
Source: BGMEA, October 02, 2010
Chapter Four
Description of the sampled RMG Industry
[pic]
KIMS CORPORATION
4.1 Name of the Garment Industry: Kims Corporation Ltd
Address: Sutan Noardda Arapra, Savar, Dhaka.
Establishment of the Garment Industry: Established in Febuary, 2007
Type of production: Shirt and pant
Total number of the working people in the Industry: Total number of the working people is 1617 person, whereas male 491 person and female 1126 person.
Exporting countries: Exporting countries are Belgium, Hong kong, Italy.
Type of Infrastructure: It is a rented four storied building.
Yearly total production: Total production is 216 lac pieces.
Facilities for the workers:
1. Bonus
2. Maternity leave
3. Medical facilities
4. picnic
Safety: There are two alternative stairs and fire service system to protect earthquake and fire.
[pic]
DOEL GROUP OF INDUSTRY
4.2 Name of the Garment Industry: DOEL GROUP OF INDUSTRY
Address: Ulail , Saver, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Establishment of the Garment Industry: This garment industry is established in 1993.
Type of production: knit item such as full shirts, shirts.
Total number of the working people in the Industry: Total number of the working people is 918 person, whereas male 256 person and female 662 person.
Exporting countries: Exporting countries are Canada, Switzerland and America.
Type of Infrastructure: It is a five storied building and used only garment purpose.
Yearly total production: Total production is 120 lake pieces.
Facilities for the workers:
1. Bonus
2. Maternity leave
3. Medical facilities
4. Picnic
5. Tiffin
Safety: There are two alternative stairs and fire service system to protect earthquake and fire.
[pic]
Al-Muslim Group
4.3 Name of the Garment Industry: Al-muslim Group
Address: 14 Gedda, Karanpara, Ulail, Saver, and Dhaka.
Establishment of the Garment Industry: This garment industry is established in 2000.
Type of production: Jins pant, Jacket
Total number of the working people in the Industry: Total number of the working people is 3541 person, whereas male 1238 person and female 2303 person.
Exporting countries: Exporting countries are Canada, Switzerland
Type of Infrastructure: It is a rented six storied building.
Yearly total production: Total production is 126 lac pieces.
Facilities for the workers:
1. Bonus
2. Maternity leave
3. Medical facilities
4. Picnic
5. Tiffin
6. Canteen
7. Day care
Safety: There are two alternative stairs and fire service system to protect earthquake and fire.
[pic]
Biswas Group
4.4 Name of the Garment Industry: Biswas Group
Address: Raj Fulbaria, Saver, Dhaka
Establishment of the Garment Industry: This garment industry is established in 1996.
Total number of the working people in the Industry: Total number of the working people is 1230 person, whereas male 988 person and female 242 person.
Type of production: Shirt, Pants
Exporting countries: Exporting countries are Hong Kong, Canada,
Type of Infrastructure: It is six storied building.
Yearly total production: Total production is 8305.44 lake pieces.
Facilities for the workers:
1. Bonus
2. Maternity leave
3. Medical facilities
4. Picnic
5. Tiffin
6. Day care
Safety: There are two alternative stairs and fire service system to protect earthquake and fire.
[pic]
Al-Islam Group
4.5 Name of the Garment Industry: Al-Islam Group,
Address: Ulail, Saver, Dhaka.
Establishment of the Garment Industry: This garment industry is established in 2000.
Type of production: Pants
Total number of the working people in the Industry: Total number of the working people is 1000 person, whereas male 289 person and female 711 person.
Exporting countries: Exporting countries are Belgium, Switzerland
Type of Infrastructure: Six storied building with rent.
Yearly total production: Total production is 82 lac pieces.
Facilities for the workers:
1. Bonus
2. Maternity leave
3. Medical facilities
4. Picnic
5. Canteen
Safety: There are two alternative stairs and fire service system to protect earthquake and fire.
According to the structured questionnaire, survey five RMG industries at present study find out-
• Relationship between the employer and employ is conjugal
• They try to give all the kinds of facilities of the workers
• Regarding the pay scale all of them said that they give salary according to the government declared wage structure.
• All of them said about that safety measurement taken properly.
Chapter Five
The New Labour Code-2010
PART 1: WORKING CONDITIONS
1.1 WAGES
1.1.1 Definition
Chapter 10 of the new labour law deals with provisions related to the wages of the labour.
But, as per different decision of the courts of Bangladesh, the following items are also treated as part of the wages of a worker:
• Any amount payable to the worker by the order of the courts or the award of the arbitrator shall be treated as the wages;
• Overtime allowance shall be treated as the wages;
• Compensation on retrenchment (on ground of redundancy) shall be treated as wages;
• Allowance during lay-off or temporary suspension shall be treated as the wages;
• Increment shall be treated as the wages;
• Compensation at the expiry of the employment by any means like dismissal, discharge or otherwise shall be treated as the wages;
• Gratuity on discharge or any other gratuity shall be treated as the wages;
• House rent allowances shall be treated as the wages;
1.1.3 Fixation of wage periods and time of payment of wages
Changes in the present law
There is a big change. In previous law, where there is less than 1000workers employed, the employer had to pay before the expiry of the 7th day from the end wage period and in the railway or any other factory or industry, the employer had to pay before the expiry of the 10th day the end of the wage period.
1.1.4 Deduction from the wages
Provision of the new labour law
Section 125 of the labour law 2006 deals with the deductions made from the wages of the workers. Following are the deductions valid under the present law:
• Fins under section 25 (section 25, however, states that no fine shall be allowed more than one-tenth of the wages receivables by a worker in a particular wage period and no fine for a worker aged below 15);
• Deduction for absence from duty;
• Deduction for damage or loss of goods entrusted upon the worker in her/his custody;
1.2 WORKING HOURS AND LEAVES
1.2.1 Daily hours
Provisions of the new labor code
Section 100 makes a provision of 8 working hours a day for an adult worker, but an adult worker may work 10 hours a day provided all the conditions of section 108 have been fulfilled. According to that section the employer is required to pay the worker, overtime, double the rate of his/her usual wages. i.e. basic & dearness allowance, if any. The employer is also required to maintain an overtime registrar as per the law.
Changes in present law
One hour a day has been decreased for the calculation of daily hours.
1.2.3 Weekly hours
Provisions of the new labor code
The new law makes a provision of total 48 (forty eight) working hours for a worker, but it can be extended upto sixty hours, subject to the payment of overtime allowances as per section 108 of the law. However, an average of 56 working hours per week in a year for a labor must not be exceeded under any circumstances. But the new law makes a provision for exemption approved by the government if it thinks so fit.
Changes in present law
Exemption clause has been inserted by which the government is empowered to exempt any of the factories to do away with this rule for a maximum period of six months at a time.
1.2.4 Weekly Holiday
Provisions of the new labor code
Section 103 of the new labor code makes the provision of one day weekly holiday for all the workers employed in a factory.
Changes in new law: No change.
1.3 PAID ANNUAL LEAVE
1.3.4 Sick leave
Changes in present law
Previous law provided for the same period of leave with half average wages whereas the new law makes the sick leave to be one with full average wages. The provision of the certification by a registered physician does not exist in the previous law. However, it has been added to the new law.
1.5 MATERNITY BENEFITS
1.5.1 Maternity leave
Changes in present law
The new law increases the maternity leaves to sixteen weeks from twelve weeks and decreases the duration of the qualifying service period, to avail the benefit, to six months from 9 months.
1.5.2 Procedure of payment of the maternity benefit
Changes in present law
Changes have been made in favor of the management, as the management is required to pay the benefit within three working days. As per the previous law it was binding upon the management to pay the benefit within 48 hours only.
Again, the maternity leave and benefits are admissible to a woman worker upto her two living birth only.
1.5.3 Amount of the Maternity Benefits
Provisions of the new labor code
As per sections 48 of the new labor code there is a provision of the payment in terms of daily, weekly or monthly, as and where applicable, average wages.
PART 2: EMPLOYMENT
2.16 Discharge
Compensation in case of discharge
Every worker who has completed a continuous service for one year shall be entitled to get a benefit of 30 days wage for every completed year of service or the gratuity, whichever if higher.
PART 3: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE
3.1 SAFETY
3.1.1 Fire
Present law with regards to fire
Section 62 deals with the provisions of the measures to be taken by a factory to avoid dangers and damage of fire. The section provided as follows:
1. At least one alternative exit with stair connecting all the floors of the factory building as described by the rules for each and every factory.
2. No door affording exit can be locked or fastened during the working hours so that they can be easily or immediately opened from inside.
3. The doors affording exit must be open outwards, unless it is sliding in nature, if the door is between two rooms it must open in the direction of the nearest exit.
4. Marking in red letter with adequate size, in the language understood by majority of workers, on such doors, windows or any alternative exit affording means of escape in case of fire.
5. There shall be an effective and clearly audible means of warning of fire to every worker.
6. There shall be a free passage-way giving access to each means to escape.
7. Where more than ten workers are employed other than in the ground floor, there shall be a training for all the workers about the means of escape in case fire.
8. There shall be a parade of fire extinction and escape at least once a year in a factory where more than fifty workers are employed.
Changes in the present law
• The new law makes a provision of an alterative stair affording means of escape connecting all the floors
• Fire extinguishing and escape parade shall be provided for at least once in a year
3.2 WELFARE
3.2.1 First aid appliances
Provisions of the new labor code
Section 89 of the new labor law provided the following:
1. A well equipped first aid box or almirah for every 150 labor.
2. A person, who has to be always available in the factory, trained in first aid knowledge assigned for every first aid box.
3. Notice regarding the availability of that person in every working rooms and a special badge allocated for that person.
4. An ambulance and a well equipped dispensary for every 300 workers employed in a factory
Changes in present law
The facility of the ambulance and the dispensary has to be provided by the owners of the factories in which there are at least 300 workers employed. Previously this facility was required for factories with at least 500 workers.
3.2.5 Rooms for children
Changes in present law
Required minimum number of the female workers, with children below 6 years of age, has been decreased to 40 from 50, for a child room in a factory.
The new wage structure- 2010
The Wage Board Chairman handed over to the government a draft proposal of Wage Structure for the Garments Sector of Bangladesh which was declared on 29 July 2010. The draft proposal says that, before assessing the minimum wage for this industry, the cost and standard of living of the workers, the productivity of the workers, the price of the produce, inflation, and business capability etc. have been taken into consideration. The Wage Board presented the draft proposal of Wage Structure as per the order No. 139 of the Bangladesh Labour Law 2006. The last wage structure in the Garments Sector was declared in 2006. Although according to the labour law a new wage structure is to be fixed 5 years after the previous fixation of wage in an industry, the government has declared the new wage structure right now, the new minimum wage structure started in 01 November 2010.
The Proposed Wage Structure 2010 for the Garments
Workers of Bangladesh
|Class |Wage – Year 2006 |Wage – Year 2010 |Rate of |
| |In Taka |In Taka |Increase |
| | | |% |
| Grade 1 | 5,140 | 9,300 | 80.93 |
| Grade 2 | 3,840 | 7,200 | 87.50 |
| Grade 3 | 2,449 | 4,120 | 68.23 |
| Grade 4 | 2,250 | 3,763 | 67.24 |
| Grade 5 | 2,046 | 3,455 | 68.87 |
| Grade 6 | 1,851 | 3,210 | 73.42 |
| Grade 7 | 1,662 | 3,000 | 80.45 |
| Apprentice | 1,200 | 2,500 | 108.33 |
*The apprenticeship period is 3 months, but if the apprentice cannot attain satisfactory efficiency by that time, the factory owners will be able to extend the period by another 3 months. (For details of workers by designations, see Appendix I).
Source: Rahman, 1 August 2010:13.
The workers engaged in the garments sector have been arranged in 7 classes and other employees in 4 categories by the Wage Board in their Wage Structure 2010.
Of the 4 categories of employees the MLSS id est. the 4th grade employees will get Taka 3,280 each per month. This 4th grade of employees include – Peons of the Garment Factories, Guards, Cooks, Sweepers, Junior Data Entry Operators, Floor Helpers, Loader Guards, Messengers, Tea Boys, Cleaners, Drivers etc.
Categories of Working Class by Designations
|Class | Categories of Working Class |Wage in Taka |
| | |per Month |
|Grade 1 |Pattern master, Chief quality controller, Chief cutting master, Chief | 9,300 |
| |mechanic, Chief electrician, Collar master and Graphic designer | |
|Grade 2 |Mechanic, Cutting master, Asst. Pattern master, Asst. Collar master, Asst. | 7,200 |
| |Graphic designer | |
|Grade 3 |Special machinist, Senior swing machine operator, Senior winding machine | 4,120 |
| |operator, Senior knitting machine operators, Senior linking machine operator, | |
| |Senior cutter, Senior quality inspector, Senior marker, Senior line leader, | |
| |Senior over lock machine operator, Senior kwacha machine operator, Lay man, | |
| |Senior auto cutter, Senior marker etcetera. | |
|Grade 4 |Swing machine operator, Winding machine operator, Knitting machine operator, | 3,763 |
| |Linking machine operator, Dry man, Packer, Over lock machine operator, Line | |
| |leader, Auto cutter, Cad operator, Lay man, Bundling man, Rib cutter, Tag man,| |
| |Printer, Quality operator etcetera. | |
|Grade 5 |Junior swing machine operator, Junior winding machine operator, Junior | 3,455 |
| |knitting machine operator, Junior linking machine operator, Junior dry man, | |
| |Junior packer, Junior over lock machine operator, Junior line leader, Junior | |
| |auto cutter, Junior cad operator, Junior bundling man, Junior lay man, Junior | |
| |rib cutter, Junior tag man etcetera. | |
|Grade 6 |Ordinary swing machine operator, Ordinary winding machine operator, Ordinary | 3,210 |
| |printing machine operator, Ordinary linking machine operator, Ordinary auto | |
| |cutter etcetera. | |
|Grade 7 |Asst. Swing machine operator, Asst. Winding machine operator, Asst. Knitting | 3,000 |
| |machine operator, Asst. Madding operator, Asst. Cutter, Marker, Creasing man, | |
| |Line iron man, Dry washing man, Over lock machine assistant, Button machine | |
| |assistant, Kwacha machine assistant, Finishing assistant, Asst. Bundling man, | |
| |Asst. Fusing machine operator, Asst. Auto spreader, Lay man, Embroidery | |
| |operator, Printing operator, Printer, Helper etcetera. | |
| ------ | Apprentice | 2,500 |
Source: The Daily Ittefaq, 58th Year, No.216, 1 August 2010:13.
The minimum wages for the garment industry was first declared Tk. 627 for the lowest grade in 1985. The wage was reviewed after 9 years to Tk.930 in 1994, 48.33% increase. After 12 years in 2006 it was revised to Tk.1662.5, 78.76% increase. The third review of the minimum wages has been made after 3 years in 2010 to Tk. 3000, 80.45% increase.
The Minimum Wages for the Garment Sector -2010
Break Down of the Minimum Wages-2010
|Grades |Basic BDT |House Rent (40% of |Medical BDT |Gross BDT |
| | |basic) | | |
|VII |2000 |800 |200 |3000 |
|VI |2230 |892 |200 |3322 |
|V |2395 |958 |200 |3553 |
|IV |2615 |1046 |200 |3861 |
|III |2870 |1148 |200 |4281 |
|II |5000 |2000 |200 |7200 |
|I |6500 |2600 |200 |9300 |
|Trainees | | | |2500 |
(Source: )
Chapter Six
Empowerment of women
Our National poet Kazi Nazrul Islam wrote- The Good done by the civilization, half created by man and rest by the women. This is an eternal statement about the development of human civilization. From the dawn of the civilization women and men worked together to make the future brighter.
In a certain point of the social development process a few socially determined factors created a cultural hemisphere, which pushed the civilization not to think women as equal to the men. This cultural phenomenon changed the thought process of society and the society started discrimination between women and men and ultimately women become a deprived part of society. Empowerment of women is an indicator, a vital one, of development and sociologists say that the socio-economic condition, extent of empowerment and level of enjoying human rights of women in country reflects the real picture of the country (Hossain; 2004:1). Therefore the status of women upholds the actual feature of any society- not the status of men as men are a superior position in the society (Jahan; 2006:58). Women have limited control over resources, they are under-development, and they are facing much kind of inequalities or discrimination, diversified violence, health hazards especially in terms of puberty and motherhood, dowry and so many endless problems in comparison with their male counterpart. So the development of the any society or country cannot be realized if women, the half of the population, are excluded from the mainstream of development. As this study is concerned with women empowerment, it is important to clear its meaning.
6.1 Empowerment
“Empowerment is not giving people power; people already have plenty of power, in the wealth of their knowledge and motivation, to do their jobs magnificently. We define empowerment as letting this power out (Blanchard, K)" (Wikipedia,The free encyclopedia).
Development practitioners and academicians have attempted to establish a definition of empowerment. Definitions of empowerment recognize that, it is linked with the issue of power, access to economic, social and political resources, and with the option for men and women to make decision on equal terms (UN, 1995:62).
In general, empowerment can be defined as the process of gaining power. But it is not so easy to define as it is a complex and multi dimensional concept. Concept of participation and equity is also associated with this. Those who use the term ‘empowerment’ presupposes that in a population there is a large section who are deprived, poor, unemployed, oppressed and so on. They think that scope of participation in different sectors for this section of population should be confirmed so that they can compensate themselves. This is how that section gains power and this process can be defined as empowerment (Hossain; 2004).
Chowdhury (2005:18) says, “Empowerment is about enhancing the capacity of poor women and men to influence state institutions, political and social process that shape resources allocation and public policy choices which affect their lives and gain access to resources”.
So gaining control on one or all of these resources is the process of empowerment. It is rooted in the concept of equity which is not hundred percent attainable; rather it is continuous and thus the empowerment. Empowerment is reflected in the power structure of any society. In general, the power structure is in the pyramid shape but empowerment process tries to convert it into a rectangular one where everyone has equal power.
Features of Empowerment
There are some basic features that constitute the thrust of empowerment and reduce the powerlessness of the poor, deprived and oppressed. These are:
* Local self reliance, autonomy in the decision-making process of communities and participatory in democracy in the larger process of representative;
* Provision for special social learning;
* Access to land and other resources, education, health and housing;
* Ability to attain food and sustain self sufficiency;
* Access to knowledge and skill for the maintenance of constant natural capital stock;
* Access to skill training as a tool for problem solving techniques;
* Micro-credit programs (Chowdhury, 2005:18-19).
Approaches of Empowerment
In contrast to powerlessness and its multidimensional nature, empowerment also has several approaches towards reducing the powerlessness of people. There are:
* Socio-economic empowerment: it refers to the empowerment of individuals, communities and nations to obtain collective responsibility for the own future.
* Political-educational empowerment: it denotes the process in which the education for self-reliance or education for critical awareness provides people with capacity to grapple with issues of democracy and justice and to achieve desired level of well being.
* Technological empowerment: it involves the process of attaining technical, technological skill and harnessing resources in co-operation with international organizations that enhance labor productivity, income earnings potential an increase in human wellbeing
* Cultural and spiritual empowerment: it refers to the understanding of culture and spirituality as the basis of human existence (Singha and Titi, 1997).
6.2 Women Empowerment
The concept of women empowerment is not so old. In mid eighties specialists has brought it into limelight while emphasizing on ‘participatory development’ for women development. As empowerment is viewed as the core instrument for the development of weaker, deprived, poor or vulnerable section of any population; women being the majority of the section incorporate empowerment as the strongest tool of their development (Houssain, 2004:2) and it is seen in the way sociologists or development leaders have defined empowerment.
“Sharma” (1991:24) says that empowerment of women is a process aimed at changing the nature and direction of systematic forces, which marginalize women and other disadvantaged sections in a given context.
The generally accepted notion of women empowerment in donor discourse and followed by most third world governments is presented in UNDP report, 1994. This report states, women’s empowerment ‘requires a redistribution of fundamental powers in society, from the powerful to powerless’. It constitutes ‘a sharing of power by women with men’.
Chen (1999) describes the conceptual framework for women’s empowerment. The four dimensions of women’s empowerment-resources, perceptions, relationship and power are defined as follows:
* Resources: increased access to material assets, income, employment or social resources, membership in an organized group.
* Relationships: improved contractual agreements both explicit and implicit in various types of relation.
* Power: increased ability on the part of women to change and control their external environment.
* Perception: clear perception on the part of a woman of her own individual interests and values, and to make the others in her family to understand her contribution to the family welfare.
So we see that dimensions of women empowerment differ from one person to another. But all of them are almost same. The following can be illustrated as the overall dimensions of women empowerment-
* Economic empowerment: Economic empowerment defines once paid employment. Also includes the ownership of land and rights to own land, access to all sorts of resources at domestic and community level as well as natural, and the contribution to family expenditure or income.
* Personal empowerment: Personal empowerment develops a sense of self and individual confidence and capability, and undoing the effect of internalized oppression.
* Social empowerment: Social empowerment is synonymous to social security. It includes Decision-making power at community level, participation in development program and exposure to information.
* Political empowerment: Political empowerment focuses on participation in the political structure, opportunity to franchise independently and increased awareness about political situation. It also refers to ‘the access to the decision-making process of the state’ (Jahan, 2006:57). Political empowerment is important as it will ensure their role in the decision-making process. Politically empowered women will be able to make the decision and implement them (Kabir, 1995:57). So Political empowerment is considered the precondition of women’s empowerment as a whole.
6.3 Origin of Women Empowerment
If we search for the origin of women empowerment, it can be found at the very beginning of ‘patriarchy’ and ‘gender discrimination’ (Khanum, 2003:81). Patriarchy has been established through rooting out ‘matriarchy’. The fall of ‘matriarchy’ has pushed the women in backwardness, deprivation and oppression. Thus ’Engels’ (1997) has said properly: “fall of matriarchy is the great historical defeat of women”.
In development of Patriarchy, women became more and more involved in household activities. Very few of them were engaged in outdoor economic activities but their scope of work and a policy were discriminated. But on the 08 March, 1857, women workers came down on the street of New York against discrimination and oppression and demanded equal rights for the first time. We observe that day as ‘International Women’s Day. In 1913, Emily Wilding Davison became martyr on 12 June demanding voting rights of women.
Though movement of women began in 1857, the spirit behind it ‘feminism’ involved in 1972 through the publication of the historic book, “Vindication of the Rights of Women” written by Marry Wilston Keaft. In cost of Emily’s life voting rights of women became established on 26 August in 1920 through the nineteenth amendment bill in U.S. Congress. Indian women attained the voting right in 1921. From 1960 women were becoming the chiefs of government. When mobility of women crossed the border of conventional limit, the concept of women’s participation in development, known as ‘women in development’ (WID), emerged. This concept of development has been emerged to women empowerment over time to meet the demand of time. This evaluation can be described in fine distinct phases (Khanum, 2003:82-83)-
* Welfare approach: During 1950-60, women’s participation in development was limited in the aim of developing women as good wives or mothers. These mothers were aimed to reproduce good citizens who were supposed to contribute in social development. In this period, initiatives were taken to make women skilled in family planning, situation etc.
* Equity approach: Over the period 1975-85, this concept was emphasized as it was the U.N. decade for women. Equal right of women was placed on different U.N. conventions with great important over this period and on December 18, 1979, ‘Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women’ (CEDAW) was approved by the general assembly of United Nations. By the year 2003, 125 countries have been ratified it. Bangladesh has ratified it on November 06, 1984.
* Efficiency approach: In the decade of 1980-90, emphasis was given on the improvement of the skill of women that can be said mainly ‘development of women’. In the developing countries, separate quota and special opportunities for women were arranged in different sectors, e.g. education, employment and polities, over this period.
* Anti-poverty approach: It was also providing launched in this Eighties. The aim of this program was to provide micro credit and employment to women in order to incorporate poverty alleviation movement.
* Empowerment approach: In the decade of Nineties in the last century, this approach raised over all the previous ones. The theme of this approach is that only self reliance, in term of economic matter, of women is not enough; rather control over own life in all aspects is essential. And this is termed as empowerment. It becomes the core of feminist movement. As a result, it becomes the most discussed issue of different UN conventions- Vienna Convention (1993), Cairo Convention (1994), Beijing Convention (1995), and UN Convention for Women (2000).
6.4 Indicators of Women Empowerment
There are many indicators of women empowerment and all these vary from different perspectives of different practitioners or organization. Biswas (1995) consider eleven indicators of women empowerment. These indicators are- mobility, decision-making power, autonomy, economic security, freedom from domination by the family, political and legal awareness, participation in public protests, and contribution to family expenditure or income, reproductive rights, reproduction rights, exposure to information, and participation in development programs.
On the other hand, ‘World Economic Forum’ uses five individual parameters or indicators for comparative analysis and cross country comparison of women’s empowerment (Basher, 2006). These indicators include the previously started eleven under five broad groups; the five groups used by ‘World Economic Forum’ in 2005 are as follows-
* Women’s economic participation: It includes ‘women’s participation in labour force and the wage gap between male and female workers for similar work.
* Women’s economic opportunity: It includes- ‘maternity leave and benefit policy, available of childcare facilities etc’. These are based on existing public policies that help women to be involved in the economic activities.
* Women’s political empowerment: It includes- participation in the political structure, opportunity to franchise independently and increased awareness about political situation, access to the decision-making process of the state.
* Women’s educational attainment: It includes- literacy rate of women, opportunity of schooling, increased awareness, functionalism of education, changing perception of education, skills and trainings needed for life etc.
* Women’s health and well being: It includes- all the indicators of health e.g., life expectancy, nutritional status, maternal rate, exposure to disease, prevention of diseases, health education; and all the indicators of the well being e.g., position in HDI, consciousness and perception of life, rights and well being.
6.5 Women Empowerment in Bangladesh Concept
About of the entire population of Bangladesh, 71,064 thousands out of 142,319 thousands by 2011 are women (The Prothom Alo, 2011: 1) and the harmony of their life is corrupted by many elements of this male dominated society.
Begum Rokeya wrote in her Sultana’s Dream, “We have no hand or voice in the management of our social affairs. In India (India Sub-continent) man is lord and master; he has taken to himself all powers and privileges and shut up the women in ‘Zenana’. In fact this situation not changed much, there are still miles to go to make Rokeya’s Dream true; she had dreamt for every girl to be educated, self-reliant, empowered and a decision-maker (Babul; 2006:11).
Rokeya’s statement is very much true for present Bangladesh and the situation has really changed considerably. In our society women are discriminated from the very beginning of life- the birth. Study shows that 1/3 of the children born with malnutrition in our country and half of them are girls and a half of them are boys (Majumder, 2006). But girls get very less care in the family as well as in the society in all aspects of access including food, hygiene, education etc. It results in malnutrition of adult women.
List of countries by sex ratio
|Country/ Region |At birth |Under 15 |15-64 |Over 65 |total |
|Bangladesh |1.04 |1.10 |0.89 |0.93 |0.93 |
|India |1.12 |1.13 |1.07 |0.9 |1.08 |
|Pakistan |1.10 |1.06 |1.05 |0.88 |1.09 |
|Belgium |1.045 |1.04 |1.02 |0.71 |0.96 |
Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, October 2011
It shows the male to female sex ratio as estimated by United States' CIA. However, there are differences between the estimates by The World Fact book and numbers reported by the census offices of respective countries.
A ratio above 1 means there are more males than females, while a ratio below 1 means there are more females than males. A ratio of 1 means there are equal numbers of females and males. Here it is seen that the sex ratio of Bangladesh below 1. It means that there are more females than males.
Women are a part of the nation’s manpower. This manpower of Bangladesh has already shown its immense potential in different socio- economic sectors. Whatever development
Bangladesh has achieved during the last decade has been made possibly by controlling population growth, raising educational level, and by increasing its labor force participation rate. Available National statistics reveal that women played dominant role in all sectors. It has been found in various studies that even with limited access to productive resources, women have participated in the labour market in large number. Due to the participation of women in the labour force, the overall participation in the labour force has also multiplied in the past few years. Women also have great potential as entrepreneurs, and this potential has been revealed in their efficiency to undertake a huge number of micro enterprises through using micro credit. Although women have minuscule access to be capital, findings show that they proved their efficiency to undertaking the enterprises too. It has been found that about 4% of the garment factories are owned by women entrepreneurs (Paul- Majumder, 2003:7).
According to the Economic Survey- 2011 the total number of labour force in Bangladesh are 5.37 crore out of which 4.02 crore are male and 1.35 crore are female. (Current Affairs, July: 2011).
The literacy rate of women is 31.8% whereas men's literacy rate is 47.6% in our country. So in terms of educational attainment women's status is still much lower.
In 2009-2010 Fiscal year, the rate of participation of women in Ministry of Women and Children Affairs is 71.29 % (Hussian, 2 August2011:9).
According to our constitution
Article-19(iii): Steps shall be taken to ensure participation of women in all spheres of national life.
Article-28(i): The state shall not discriminate against ant citizen on grounds only of religion, race. Caste, sex or place of birth.
Article-28(ii): Women shall have equal rights with men in all spheres of the state and of public life.
Article-28(iv): Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making special provision in favour of women or children or for the advancement of any backward section of citizens.
Article-29(i): There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in respect of employment or office in the service of the Republic.
Article- 65(iii): According to (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 2011: There shall be reserved forty five seats exclusively for women members and they will be elected by the aforesaid members in accordance with law on the basis of procedure of proportional representation in the Parliament through single transferable vote.
Child Marriage Restrain act ( Amendment Ordinance 1984) which raises the marriage age of women from 16 to 18 years and marriage age of men from 18 to 21 years. It also provides punishment form marrying a girl child.
The Muslim Family Law Ordinance 1961(Amended in 1988) which provides for increased punishment in cases of polygamy and divorce in violation if the statutory provision.
The Dowry prohibition Act 1980 (Amended in 1986) which has made the custom of dowry an offence, punishment by fine and imprisonment.
Role of the Government in fifth five-year plan
The Government of Bangladesh had taken a positive role for elimination of all discrimination against women. It has set goals and objectives of WID during the fifth five-year plan. Some of the related objectives are given below.
* To achieve equality between men and women in the sharing of power and decision making at all levels.
* To raise awareness and to ensure establishment of women rights recognized nationally and internationally.
* To promote economic self-reliance for women including access to economic resources land capital and technology.
* To mainstream women’s concern in agriculture and rural development, industry and commerce and the informal sector.
* To ensure the visibility and recognition of women’s work and to reduce the gender gap in access to information, skill and knowledge about economic opportunities.
* To raise the rate of female participation in the active labour force (employed) to bring it at par with man.
* To raise literacy of women to about to 50 percent and to complete of primary education by at least 80 percent of the children, at school-going age.
* Eliminate all sorts of violence against women.
* To generate necessary complementary service facilities for the development of women.
The strategies to be adopted for the attainment of those objectives are poverty alleviation progarmmes, public expenditure to address the basic needs of women, support of education, health and legal protection.
The strategies means to implement these include building institutional structure from to achieve grassroots to national level co-ordination between development policies and activities of various organizations and co-operation between the government and NGOs.
The government has formed a National Council for Women Development (NCWD), headed by the Honorable Prime Minister. NCWD is acting as its secretariat. This council will look after the WID.
MDGs in Bangladesh
At the Millennium Summit in September 2000 the largest gathering of the world leaders in history adopted the UN Millennium Declaration, committing their nations to a new global partnership to reduce extreme poverty and setting out a series of time bound targets, with a deadline of 2015 that have become known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Bangladesh is signatory of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In 2000, eight goals (MDGs) have been set up by the Millennium Summit at UN. Among the eight goals, the 3rd one is “Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women”, the 4th one is “Reduce child mortality rate”, and the 5th one is “Improve Maternal health”. So the three out of eight goals are directly related to women and the rest five goals also include the women with priority. (Current Affairs, October: 2010)
According to MDGs status of Bangladesh, (Goal: 03)
|Indicators |Base Year |Current Year |Target 2015 |
|Ratio of girls to boys in | | | |
|primary |55:45 |48:52 |48:52 |
|secondary |34:66 |52:48 |50:50 |
|tertiary education |25:75 |36:64 |50:50 |
|Ratio of literate females to |42:65 |55:71 |100:100 |
|males of 20-24 year olds | | | |
|Share of women in wage | |22% | |
|employment in the | | | |
|nonagricultural sector | | | |
|Proportion of seats held by | |2% | |
|women in national parliament | | | |
Source: MDG Progress Report 2005: Bangladesh
International labour organization and equality
The ILO has a constitutional commitment to equality. It has sponsored and published extensive research and guidance on the subject, and the following are some of the relevant standard of resolutions, which it has adopted;
* Equal Remuneration: Convention 100 (1995)
* Discrimination (Employment and Occupation): Convention 111 (1958)
* Workers with Family Responsibilities: Convention 156 (1981)
* Equality of Opportunity and Treatment for women workers: Declaration (1975)
* Equal Opportunities and Equal Treatment for and women in Employment: Resolution(1985)
* ILO Action for Women Workers: Resolution (1991)
In 1987 ILO adopted a plan of action on equality of opportunity and treatment for men and women in employment. Its objective was to promote equality and bring women into the mainstream of economic development.
Barrier in creating equal opportunities
* Social prejudice against women: Discrimination against women in Bangladesh starts from the very birth of the girl child. They are trained to be docile and compliant. They are treated as the liability of the family unlike their brother who are treated as the asset of the family. They are discouraged to play an assertive role in the family.
* Very insignificant participation of women both in public and private employment sector. Situation is such that there is no or very little representation of women at the policy and decision making level.
* Lower education level of women: Comparatively the participation of women is less than the male person in education sector.
* Women are found to be less interested technical jobs, which require skilled professional efficiency. The percentage of women coming to this kind of professional area is still negligible.
* Unwillingness of the employer to employ women in jobs which require filed work, working at odd hours, remote areas, and jobs requiring operation of heavy machinery.
* Women’s preference to work at a secure place near home even if it is a lower post with lesser remuneration.
* Lack of commitment on the part of the government to strictly maintain female employment quota in all services.
* Lack of congenial environment at work places like proper toilet facilities, restroom, baby care facilities, harassment by male colleagues etc.
* No group formation among women like trade unions. They have no bargaining capacity.
* Large scale unemployment of women due to structure changes. No vertical mobility due to lack of professional training and attitudinal prejudice of the employer.
* Lack of awareness among women workers about their legal rights and protection in existing labor laws.
These entire factors act as deterrent to women’s equal opportunities at workplaces.
Recommendations
* Gender issues should be an integral part of all activities undertaken by the organization.
* Mobilis action women to from organizations and ensuring their active participation in all economic and social activities.
* Women’s organizations should be more active in awareness and capacity building.
* Specific project/programmes to be made which will particularly employ women and will serve women interest.
* Strict rules are to be formulated and its implementation has to be ensuring to eliminate all sorts of violence against women and trafficking of women and girl children.
* National and political commitment for women’s empowerment and mainstreaming women in development programmes.
* Maintenance of quota is to be made compulsory for both Govt. and NGOs so long imbalance exists in employment.
* Developing and implementing specific measures and institutional arrangements for the promotion of gender equality at work places.
* Husbands to be motivated to share the burden of family responsibilities.
* The present punitive measures regarding the violation of labour law need to be changed.
* Working environment, congenial to women employees is to be ensured in all organizations employing women. Employers are to be motivated to create better agreement women employees for.
* In Govt. ADP. Specific project targeting women employment is to be funded and special directions are to be made to the Ministries to implement those projects within time frame.
Women are efficient, regular and tenacious in their work. Management should not discriminate between male and female at the time of selection of the employees. Selection should always be based on competence. In Bangladesh as per law there is equality of opportunity, equal treatment, equal pay and equal right for all, weather male and female. So employers have to be made aware of this. This law to be published and employers are to be motivated to maintain this law of providing equal opportunity. They have to understand that equality is good both morally and commercially.
6.6 Women in RMG sector and Empowerment
RMG industry is the single major sector of the Bangladesh economy employing a huge number of industrial workers, the well being of the workers should be of prime concern to the entrepreneurs of this sector and the government of the country for the lasting prosperity of the sector. It is neither a casual nor a seasonal industrial sector; its importance will prevail for a long time to come, since so long as civilization lasts people will wear clothing and import it. Bangladesh is still a strong competitor in the world apparels market with minor ups and downs.
Economic opportunity for women is limited in Bangladesh. As constitution of Bangladesh assures special initiatives for any disadvantaged group, some quota has been kept reserved for women in different government sectors e.g., 60% post are reserved in government’s primary teachers but 37% quota has been filled up (Women Entrepreneur’s Directionray 2006,p-97); government has introduced a mandatory 10% quota for women in all ministries, directorates, and autonomous bodies since 1976 but by 2002 women occupy only 9.7% of all-sector-government-services estimating all classes of job (Statistical Profile of women in Bangladesh, 2002:191).
At present, in this labor intensive totally private sector of the Bangladesh economy, around 4 million workers, which is about 65% of the total workers engaged in the manufacturing sector of the country, are directly engaged in about 5 thousand garments industrial units. The number of workers engaged directly and indirectly in this sector and other related industries will exceed 20 million. Of the garments workers about 80% are girls. There are about 3 thousand owners of the 5 thousand garment industrial units (Rahman, 11 July 2010, P.13, 23 and 1 August 2010:13).
In our country workers get much lower wage than their counterparts in other countries like China, India, Vietnam, Pakistan etcetera whose apparels mainly compete with those of Bangladesh in the world market.
Comparative minimum wages of garments workers in some competing countries
|Country |Wage per Month |Wage per Hour |
| |$ |$ |
| Turkey | N.A | 2.44 |
| Mexico | N.A | 2.17 |
| China | 300 | 1.44 |
| India | 106 | 0.51 |
| Vietnam | 92 | 0.44 |
| Pakistan | 116 | 0.56 |
| Sri Lanka | 92 | 0.44 |
| Bangladesh | 25 | 0.22 |
Source: Selim, 22 July 2010:9. Turkey and Mexico figures are from Uddin, 21 July 2010:11. The principal source of data produced by these authors is a World Bank (WB) study.
From the comparative picture of minimum wages depicted in Table, it can be argued that even if the Bangladeshi apparels workers’ demand for Taka 5 thousand as minimum wage is accepted, they will receive less than $ 72 per month or $ 0.34 per hour, which still remains the lowest among the comparator countries. So the argument which the garments owners always make that, if the wages of the workers are increased this industry will lose its external competitiveness is not tenable. One may raise the question of productivity of the Bangladeshi garments workers, but even under that consideration the Bangladeshi garments workers are deprived (Selim, 22 July, 2010:9).
According to a WB account a Bangladeshi worker by producing 2536 numbers of T-shirts per year gets $290, whereas an Indian worker gets $668 by producing only 56 more T-shirts per year. According to a Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) account, export earnings of the garments industries in 2001-02 was $4.58 billion of which a little more than $0.22 billion was paid to the workers, which is only 5% of the total earnings, although by the sweat of the workers value added was 31% of the total value (Selim, 22 July 2010: 9).
Export Promotion Bureau and BGMEA sources say that apparels prices in the international market are gradually falling recently. Table shows the price per dozen at which the foreign buyers purchased apparels from Bangladesh in the last 16 years from 1994-95 to 2009-2010 (July to November) (Hasan, 26 July 2010:2).
Apparels price per dozen at which the foreign buyers
Purchased during 1994 – 95 to 2009 – 2010 (July to November)
|Year |Price per Dozen in $ |
|1994-95 |35.65 |
|1995-96 |35.38 |
|1996-97 |37.06 |
|1997-98 |38.52 |
|1998-99 |39.63 |
|1999-00 |38.87 |
|2000-01 |39.19 |
|2001-02 |32.64 |
|2002-03 |32.31 |
|2003-04 |31.23 |
|2004-05 |30.22 |
|2005-06 |28.85 |
|2006-07 |27.69 |
|2007-08 |27.50 |
|2008-09 |26.82 |
|2009-10 (July-November) |26.62 |
Source: Hasan, The Daily Ittefaq, 58th Year, No.211, 26 July 2010: 2.
Table shows that apparels prices increased gradually from 1994-95 to 2000-01 with a slight fall in the year 1995-96 compared to the immediate past year, after which the prices jumped; then from 2001-02 prices fell continuously till 2009-10. For this reason, the apparels owners were unwilling to accept Taka 5,000 as minimum wage for the garments workers, because this will, in their view, adversely affect the garments sector (Hasan, 26 July 2010:2).
The owners proposed Taka 2,513 as minimum wage for the second time, whereas the visiting General Secretary of the International Textile, Garments and Leather workers Federation said, after meeting separately with both the owners and the workers at Dhaka that, it will cause no harm to the industry if Taka 5,000 is given to the workers as minimum wage (Jugantar, 23 July 2010:2).
Afterwards, as a result of the intervention made by the government, the BGMEA accepted the new wage structure with Taka 3,000 as minimum wage for the garments workers of Bangladesh.
An International Labour Organization (ILO) survey reveals that, the minimum wage of workers of Bangladesh in the garments sector is the lowest compared to other competing countries in the world.
Comparative picture of Minimum Wages and Profit margin
In the Garments Sector of different competing Countries
|Countries |Minimum wage in $ |Profit margin |
| |per Month |% |
| India | 113 | 11.8 |
| Pakistan | 118 | N.A |
| Vietnam | 120 | 6.5 |
| China | 204 | 3.2 |
| Bangladesh | 39 | 43.1 |
Source: Selim, 13 August 2010, P. 19. Bangladeshi minimum wage is corrected in the table. Selim quotes $69, equivalent to Taka 4,830, which is above the new minimum wage that is yet to come in to effect.
Garment workers in Bangladesh are the lowest paid in the world, and the recent rise does little to remedy their position. The World Bank reported in May 2010 that Bangladesh is the third largest exporter of garments after China and Turkey. Workers get US$1.66 an hour in China, 56 cents in Pakistan, 51 cents in India, 44 cents in Indonesia, 36 cents in Bangladesh. This is an overestimate: anyone on the new minimum of 3000 taka will be earning little over 12.5 cents an hour for a 60-hour week ( ).
It is ironic that when garments workers are being deprived of their rightful wages, the pomp and granger and standard of living of the garments owners are gradually increasing. Many of them purchasing first class air tickets and booking five star hotels abroad go on luxurious world tour with their family members once or twice every year. They hesitate little while spending money in such a lavish manner, but if the question of giving the workers just wages and minimum of facilities arise they always wail ‘if this is done the industry will be ruined. Business is very bad these days’ (Selim, 22 July 2010: 9).
The garments owners will have to understand that the minimum wage of a garments worker is Taka 1,662 (now Taka 3,000). Actually the new basic wage rate is Taka 2,000, while the minimum basic pay for a government employee is Taka 6,545. Of the remaining Taka 1,000, Taka 800 is house rent allowance and Taka 200 is medical allowance, which like other allowances are not usually included in the basic wage/pay in any other services as has been done in the case of wage of the garments workers; It is difficult for the workers to sustain their life under the prevailing high prices of daily necessities with this meager amount of money. (Hydar, 15 May2010:2),
Rent and food prices have been doubled in the past five years. Workers wanted a minimum of 5,000 taka month. Most of them are recent migrants who came to Dhaka so they could send money to their landless families; but after living expenses, nothing is left; the only gift to those they love is their own absence – one less mouth to feed.
Chapter Seven
Findings of the Study
This study attempts to know the impact of the government policy on changing the socio- economic condition of the women worker in the RMG industry. The information is presented in table marked as 7.1 Demographic Information of the Respondents, 7.2 Information about Economic and Family Affair, and 7.3 Information about Working Place, 7.4 Information about Others Facilities to Provide the Worker from Garment,7.5 Information about Education, Health and Environment ,7.6 Information about Awareness. The information have been classified and tabulated under various characteristics. The results have been shown using simple statistical methods. Qualitative and quantitative both kinds of analysis have been used.
7.1 Demographic Information of the Respondents
Table: 1.1 Respondents according to their origin of districts
|No |District |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|1 |Barisal |9 |8.57 |
|2 |Chandpur |5 |4.76 |
|3 |Jessore |7 |6.66 |
|4 |Khulna |5 |4.76 |
|5 |Manikgonj |6 |5.71 |
|6 |Mymensing |14 |13.33 |
|7 |Narail |5 |4.76 |
|8 |Noakhali |2 |1.90 |
|9 |Pabna |2 |1.90 |
|10 |Rangpur |10 |9.52 |
|11 |Rajbari |1 |1.00 |
|12 |Satkhira |6 |5.71 |
|13 |Dhaka(Savar) |5 |4.76 |
|14 |Sirajganj |4 |3.81 |
|15 |Tangail |3 |2.86 |
|16 |Comilla |5 |4.76 |
|17 |Natore |2 |1.90 |
|18 |Netrokona |3 |2.86 |
|19 |Jamalpur |7 |6.66 |
|20 |Bhola |4 |3.81 |
| |Total |N = 105 |100 |
The table no.1.1 reveals that maximum number of workers is from Mymensing 13.33%. The greater Mymensing (Mymensing Tangail, Netrokona,Jamalpur) presides 25.71%. Rangpur comes next with 9.52%.Successive positions are hold by other districts such as Barisal Jessor, Jamalpur, Narail, Satkhira and Chandpur. Form the table it is clear that most of the respondents are from the Northern region of the country. The workers migrate to the cities because of rural poverty, the economic problem of mounting unemployment, natural disaster and with the hope of happy and luxury livelihood.
|Name of RMG industry| Sex |Total |Percentage (%) |
| |Female |(%) |Male |(%) | | |
|Kims Corporation |15 |15.79 |2 |20 |17 |16.19 |
|Doel Group of |21 |22.10 |3 |30 |24 |22.86 |
|Industry | | | | | | |
|Al-muslim Group |30 |31.58 |3 |30 |33 |31.43 |
|Biswas group |20 |21.05 |1 |10 |21 |20 |
|Al-Islam Group |9 |9.48 |1 |10 |10 |9.52 |
|Total |95 |100 |10 |100 |105 |100 |
|Percentage (%) |90.48 |- |9.52 |- |100 |- |
Table: 1.2 Distribution of the respondents according to the RMG industry based on sex
The table no: 1.2 shows that there 90.48% respondents are female and 9.52% respondents are male worker. According to national survey about 80% workers are female in the RGM sector. So it supports the national percentage. From the above table it is clear that most of the RMG workers are female in our country and playing a vital role in our national development
Table: 1.3 Distribution of the respondents according to their religion
|Religion |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|Islam |99 |94.29 |
|Hindu |6 |5.71 |
|Total |N=105 |100 |
The table no: 1.3 shows that the religion distribution of the respondents. Here, 94.29% respondents are Muslims and 5.71% respondents are Hindu. So highest numbers respondents coming to the Muslim family in the RMG Industry.
Graph -01
Distribution of the respondents according to their religion
Table: 1.4 Respondents according to their age and occupation
|Occupation |Operator |Helper |Swing |Cutting |
| | | | | |
|Age | | | | |
| |Total |Percentage (%) |Total |Percentage (%) | | |
|Operator |4 |40 |54 |56.84 |58 |55.24 |
|Helper |- |- |37 |38.94 |37 |38.94 |
|Swing |2 |20 |2 |2.11 |4 |3.81 |
|Cutting |2 |20 |- |- |2 |1.90 |
|Finishing |2 |20 |2 |2.11 |4 |3.81 |
|Total |10 |100 |95 |100 |N=105 |100 |
The table No: 1.5 it reveals that 40% of the males are operators whereas, 56.48% are female. In swing sector, 20% are male and 2.11% are female. The table shows that the cutting sectors (20%) and finishing sectors (20%) are dominated by the male workers whereas, the female workers dominated the sectors operator (56.84%) and helper (38.94%) which may be because of their low educational qualification.
Graph -03
Distribution of the respondents according to their sex and occupation
Table: 1.6 Respondents according to their education and occupation
| Occupation |Operator |Helper |Swing |Cutting |Finishing | Total |
| | | | | | | |
|Education | | | | | | |
The table no: 1.7 reveals that the highest percent, i.e.51.43% of the respondent are married, 32.38% are unmarried, 8.57% are separation, 4.76% are widow and 2.88% are divorced. Here it is clearly seen that there is a positive relation between the jobs are marriage. That means the women who are occupying a job have the positive trend to marriage bondage. Divorced and separation rate in the RMG worker cannot also be ignored.
Graph -05
Respondents according to their marital status
7.2 Information about Economic and Family Affair
Table: 2.1 Respondent according to their Monthly income and Age
|Monthly income |2500-3000 |3000-3500 |3500-4000 |4000-4500 |4500-5000 |5000-5500 |Total |
|Age | | | | | | | |
The Table No: 2.3 show that the major portion 23.81% of the respondent’s monthly income is between the ranges 4000-4500 and there is 64% completed JSC level and 36% completed primary education. 21.90% of the respondent’s monthly income is between the ranges 3000-3500 TK and there is 39.13% can sign, 30.43% can sign and read, 13.04% completed primary education and 17.40% completed JSC level. Only 10.48% of the respondent’s monthly income is between the ranges 5000-5500 and there are 18.18% completed primary education, 54.55% completed JSC and 27.27% completed SSC.
The table shows that out of 105, 9 operators are gets the highest salary with minimum education. Here it is seen that experience is more countable than education. So not only their educational qualification but also experience is an important factor in the RGM industry.
Table: 2.4 Respondents according to their monthly expenditure and occupation
|Occupation |Operator |Helper |Swing |Cutting |Finishing |Total |Percentage |
|Monthly | | | | | | |(%) |
|Expenditure | | | | | | | |
| |Total |Percentage (%) |Total |Percentage (%) |Total |Percentage |Total |
| | | | | | |(%) | |
The Table No: 2.4 show that the mean expenditure of the respondents is 4411.90 TK. The major portion, 22.86 % of the respondent’s expends between the ranges of taka 5000-5500. The second highest, 20.95% of the respondent’s expends between the ranges of taka 3000-3500. Only 16.19% is seen to expend between the ranges of the 5500-6000. No worker is seen to expend more than 6000 taka. So in comparing the expenditure with income level, it is seen that there is a little difference between the income and expenditure. As a result the workers cannot save money for their future life.
Graph -07
Respondents according to their monthly expenditure and occupation
Table: 2.5 Respondents according to their duration of conjugal life
|Class interval |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|1-4 |17 |16.19 |
|5-9 |18 |17.14 |
|10-14 |26 |24.76 |
|15-19 |6 |5.71 |
|20-24 |3 |2.86 |
|25-29 |1 |0.96 |
|Not applicable |34 |32.38 |
|Total |N=105 |100 |
The Table No: 2.5 show that the duration of the marriage age of the respondents is limited within the 1-2 years. Among them 24.76%, the highest number of the respondents are in the range of 10-14 years. The second level is between the range of 5-9 years and the percent is 17.14%. Others are seen is different class levels. From this table we can give the assurance that the conjugal life of the respondents is indicates. There is a high rate of divorce, which indicates the disorder, unstable and unhappiness of their family life.
Table: 2.6 Respondents according to their opinion on the age of marriage
|Class interval |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|20-22 |21 |20 |
|23-25 |13 |12.38 |
|Not applicable |71 |67.62 |
|Total |N=105 |100 |
The Table No: 2.6 reveal that an overwhelming majority, 67.62% of the respondent has got married in the early age which is harmful of their personal life as well as working life. This table shows that 20% respondent want to married between the range of 20-22 years and 12.38% respondent opine on the marriage age in the range of 23-25 years. So it can be imagined that most of respondents are conscious about their marriage age. They know the bad effect of the early marriage. But above the information it is clearly seen that there is a trend of early marriage among the working women in the RMG sector.
Table: 2.7 Respondent according to the number of family members
|Number of family members |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|1-2 |25 |23.81 |
|3-4 |55 |50.38 |
|5-6 |20 |19.50 |
|7-8 |5 |4.76 |
|Total |N=105 |100 |
The table No: 2.7 show that the distribution of family members of the respondents. The means family members of the respondents are 3-5 persons. The highest number of family members (50.38%) is seen between the ranges of 3-4 persons, which are keeping the policy “Two Children”. Only 23.81% of the respondents family members are between the range of 1-2 persons.19.50% of the respondents are opponent to the policy as their family members are between the range of 5-6 persons. 4.76% of the respondents have more than 7 persons of the family members which indicate the unconsciousness as well as the over population of the country. There is a great trend of early marriage among the women workers with lack of consciousness they give birth children in the early age, which acts upon their health as well as their working life.
7.3 Information about Working Place
|Table: 3.1 Respondents according to their involvement in the|Table:3.2 Respondents according to their involvement in the |
|working life |present working place |
|Year |Frequency |Percentage (%) |Year |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|0-1 |18 |17.14 |0-1 |24 |22.86 |
|1-2 |22 |20.95 |1-2 |30 |28.57 |
|2-3 |16 |15.25 |2-3 |23 |21.92 |
|3-4 |23 |21.90 |3-4 |10 |9.58 |
|4-5 |4 |3.81 |4-5 |6 |5.71 |
|5-6 |10 |9.53 |5-6 |5 |4.76 |
|6-7 |2 |1.90 |6-7 |3 |2.86 |
|7-8 |2 |1.90 |7-8 |2 |1.90 |
|8-9 |2 |1.90 |8+ |2 |1.90 |
|9-10 |2 |1.90 | | | |
| | | |Total |N=105 |100 |
|10-11 |4 |3.81 | | | |
|Total |N=105 |100 | | | |
The table 3.1 and 3.2 provided the similar result. But comparing of the two table shows that involvement of the workers in the RMG industry for 8+ years in table 3.1 is 7.61% whereas table 3.2 it is only 1.9%, which is a clear indication of workers changing one garments to another garment. That the workers changes one garment to another garment frequently may be for better salary, better facilities and for better environment.
Graph -08
Respondents according to their involvement in the working life and involvement in the present working place
Table: 3.3 Respondents according to their opinion of appointment letter
|Type of opinion |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|Yes |69 |65.74 |
|No |36 |34.29 |
|Total |N=105 |100 |
The Table No: 3.3 show that the 65.74% of the respondent said that they have get the appointment letter when they are involved in the present working place. 34.29% of the respondent tells that they have not get any appointment letter in the present working place.
Here it is seen that most of the worker deprived their legal right. As a result the owner of the garments industry can easily dismiss their worker and give appoint new worker.
|Table: 3.4 Respondents according to their opinion of over time |Table: 3.5 Respondent according to their opinion about the payment of |
| |overtime |
|Type of opinion |Frequency |Percentage |Type of opinion |Frequency |Percentage |
| | |(%) | | |(%) |
|Yes |82 |78.10 |Twice the basic salary |30 |36.59 |
|No |23 |21.90 |Half of the basic |35 |42.68 |
| | | |salary | | |
|Total |N=105 |100 |Equal to the basis |17 |20.73 |
| | | |salary | | |
| | | |Total |N=82 |100 |
Table 3.4 shows that 78.10% of the workers do the overtime. In most of the industries overtime is compulsory. In some cases workers do it having any consideration by the owners is that for better livelihood. But it reveals from table 3.5 that only 36.59% workers get their due salary. But 63.41% workers do not get their overtime as per the rules. This deprivation is done by taking the advantage of their poverty, lack of awareness, education and the absence of tread union.
Graph -09
Respondents according to their opinion of over time and payment of overtime
Table: 3.6 Respondent according to their opinion on New Wage structure
|Type of opinion |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|Yes |97 |92.38 |
|No |8 |7.62 |
|Total |N=105 |100 |
The Table No: 3.6 show that 92.38% of the respondent, this is the major portion, tell that their garment owner pay their salary according to the new wage structure. Only 7.62% tell that their garments do not pay their salary according to their new wage structure. Here it is seen that most of garments follow the new wage structure. But some garment industry cannot do this. They are deprived their worker. As a result worker are cannot get their actual salary.
Graph -10
Respondent according to their opinion on New Wage structure
Table: 3.7 Impact of the New Wage Structure on the livelihood of the workers
|Type of opinion |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|Change |55 |52.38 |
|No change |37 |35.24 |
|Worth’s |13 |12.38 |
|Total |N=105 |100 |
The Table No: 3.7 reveal that 52.38% of the respondents tell that after increasing the salary scale their level of livelihood is change. 35.24% of the respondents opine are no change and only 12.38% respondents told that their condition is Worth’s. Here it is seen that after promote the new wage structure the life standard of RMG women worker are change. But a mentionable group of worker said that their life standard is not change because their salary level is not increase as they want.
Graph -11
Impact of the New Wage Structure on the livelihood of the workers
Table: 3.8 Distribution of the respondent based on their satisfaction of New Wage Structure
|Type of opinion |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|Satisfied |62 |59.05 |
|Unsatisfied |43 |40.95 |
|Total |N=105 |100 |
The Table No: 3.8 reveal that 59.05% of the respondents are satisfied on their new wage structure. 40.95% of the respondents are not satisfied on their new wage structure. So it can be said that a major portion of the women worker are not satisfied on their new wage structure because it is not enough for their livelihood.
Graph -12
Distribution of the respondent based on their satisfaction of New Wage Structure
Table: 3.9 Distribution of the respondent according to the opinion of relationship with authorities
|Type of opinion |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|Very good |15 |14.29 |
|Good |30 |28.57 |
|So so |49 |46.67 |
|Bad |11 |10.47 |
|Total |N=105 |100 |
The Table: 3.9 shows that longest concentration of the sampled women workers (75.24%) relationship with their authority is good and so so. 14.29% opine for very well while the marginal (10.47%) of the respondents have a bad relationship. So it can be imagined that most of the respondent bears a satisfactory relationship with their authority. The above fingers prove the skill and the dutifulness of women worker. So it can be said the women works are able to obey the vast responsibilities of garment industry.
Graph -13
Respondent according to the opinion of relationship with authorities
Table: 3.10 Facilities of the garment industry provided by the garment authorities
|Type of facilities |Frequency (N=105) |Percentage (%) |
|Tiffin |25 |23.81 |
|Maternity leave |105 |100 |
|Picnic |55 |52.38 |
|Day care |57 |54.29 |
|Transports |45 |42.85 |
|Medical |75 |71.43 |
|Canteen |60 |57.14 |
|Bonus |105 |100 |
|Health services |36 |34.29 |
|Others |8 |7.61 |
*More than one responses was possible
The Table No: 3.10 shows that the out of total respondents105, 100% worker tells that they get maternity leave with full salary and the same percent worker said that they get bonus for eid festival. 57.14% of the respondents tell that they enjoy canteen facilities. 71.43% of the respondents tell they get medical facilities in the garments. Here it is mentionable that medical facilities mean the First aid service. Only 54.29% respondent tells that they have a day care center but it is for rules. The owner cannot allow the workers with their children in the factory. 23.81% respondent tells that they get Tiffin but when they are doing overtime. But the RMG industry owner does not allow any housing and beam facilities for their worker.
Here it is seen that the production of the RMG industry not only dependents their monthly payment but also it dependents on their above facilities. So the facilities are increase their production is increase. But most of time these facilities is dependents on RMG owner and their mentality.
Graph -14
Facilities of the garment industry provided by the garment authorities
Table: 3.11 Distribution of the respondent according to their opinion about punishment for absent for work
|Type of Punishment |Frequency N=(105) |Percentage (%) |
|Short the salary |35 |33.33 |
|Short the weekly leave |40 |38.10 |
|Bad behavior |55 |52.38 |
|Short the attendance bonus |85 |80.95 |
|Physical punishment |30 |28.57 |
|Others |12 |11.43 |
*More than one response was possible
The table 3.11 reveals that out of total (105) workers the highest concentration of the respondent, about 80.95%, shorts the attendance bonus for absent. 52.38% respondent tells that the bad behavior for the absent and 38.10% respondents tell that short the weekly leave. Only 28.57% of the respondents detect Physical punishment and it violence the human rights of the workers. Most of the workers tell that they can absent for 2-3 days the owners of the RMG industry take above action. So working women is in manifold problems. They cannot take leave with their own will that is very cruel.
Graph-15
Respondent according to their opinion about punishment for absent for work
❖ Daily working hours
Majority of the women workers in the RMG industry tells that they are working 8 hours daily. Here it is seen that most of the RMG industry follow the new labour law.
❖ Environmental condition of the working place
Most of the workers opine about their working place their garment industry keep the door open, adequate ventilation and lighting, lunch room and adequate toilet facilities for all the workers. According to the Matab, the worker of the RMG industry suffers from both physical and psychological stress, tension, anxiety and mental agony. At the present study shows that the workers also suffer from stress, tension and anxiety.
❖ Trade Union
The 82.86% of the respondents tell that they have no opportunities to involve in the trade union and 17.14% of the respondents tell that their garments industries allow trade union. Here it is seen that the most of the garment industry do not allow trade union. In the absence of appropriate organization the workers are unable to prevent infringements in their rights and the owner of the garments industry can easily deprived their worker.
❖ Family condition
Work in the garment industry empowers the female garment workers, both socially and economically. The vital majority of the respondents (31.91%) opine that their family income and life standard is increase for working in the garment industry. 25.53% respondents opine is working in the garment industry also empowers them to improve their consumption level and housing condition. 23.41% respondents said that they can bear their own expenditure and 19.15% respondents opine that they can sent their children for education.
From the above information it can easily be said that the total family condition of the working women is much better of workless women.
7.4 Information about Others Facilities to Provide the Worker from Garment
❖ Most of the workers said that their garment industry pay equal salary of all workers. They cannot face any discrimination about their wage.
❖ About 84.33% workers opine that there is fire extinguisher in their workplace and 15.67% says that they have no idea about this. Majority of the workers say their garments industry give training for face the accidental hazard. But it is not enough for facing any kind of accidental hazard.
❖ Most of the worker tells that they get medical leave for illness. But it just for half of the day or one day.
❖ Expectation of the workers in the garments industry is below
• Expense of housing facilities like lighting, water supply, medical or any other facilities
• Provident fund
• Increase the salary
• Education for children
7.5 Information about Education, Health and Environment
Table: 5.1 Distribution of the respondent according to their monthly house rent
|Monthly house rent |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|700-800 |34 |32.39 |
|900-1000 |30 |28.57 |
|1100-1200 |27 |25.71 |
|1300-1400 |5 |4.76 |
|1500-1600 |4 |3.81 |
|1700-1800 |2 |1.90 |
|1900-2000 |3 |2.86 |
|Total |N=105 |100 |
The Table No: 5.1 show that the mean of the house rent of the respondent is 1022.38 TK. 60.96% of the major portion of the respondent and their monthly house rent between the ranges of 700-1200TK. 39.04% of the respondent house rent between the ranges of 1300-2000 TK. So in comparing the house rent with income level, it is seen that the house rent is so high than the income rate. In our country most of the worker comes in the village and they take place in the slum area of the Dhaka city. It is so expensive for their livelihood.
Graph -16
Distribution of the respondent according to their monthly house rent
Table: 5.2 Distribution of the respondent based on persons live in a room
|Description |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|1-2 |33 |31.43 |
|3-4 |55 |52.38 |
|5-6 |11 |10.48 |
|7+ |6 |5.71 |
|Total |N=105 |100 |
The Table No: 5.2 reveal that the major portion, 52.38% respondents opine are 3 to 4 persons live in a room. 31.43% respondents tell that 1-2 persons live in a room. 5.71% respondents tell that more than 7 persons live in a room. The table reveals that the RMG workers live in a miserable life. Parents and children live in a room. As a result decline the morality in our society.
❖ Type of house
Majority 37.14% of the respondents live in the tin and bamboo made house. 27.62% respondents live in the tin and cement made house and 24.76% live in tin made house. Here it is seen that most of workers live in the bamboo and tin made house because of their low income and week socio-economic condition (there lack of gas, electricity, sentries latrine etc,) and all family members live in a room.
❖ Type of water taken
Majority 61.90% of the respondents use Tube well water. This is the biggest portion. 33.33% use tap water. There are also some conscious women (4.77%) in the slum who use boiled water. Slums are planned residential areas where there are lacks of municipal facilities. Besides this most of the garment workers are poor and unconscious. So without judging the quality, they take water randomly from where they get it easily.
Table: 5.3 Distribution of the respondent by the type of recreation
|Type of recreation |Frequency |Percentage (%) |
|Radio |13 |11.93 |
|TV |53 |48.62 |
|Tape-recorder |5 |4.58 |
|Others |6 |5.51 |
|Not applicable |32 |29.36 |
|Total |N=105 |100 |
The table no: 5.3 show that 48.62% the major portion of the respondents have TV in their family for recreation. So majority of the respondents have taken a TV as s medium of recreation. 11.93%of the respondents are seen to enjoy Radio. 29.36% of the women worker in the garments industry is deprived of this facility and it is due to their lack income. Recreation is such activity, which helps to bring freshness in mind, removes monotony of works and provides encouragement to work. But a mention able portion of the women worker is deprived of this facility.
Table: 5.4 Distribution of the respondent by the type of medical facilities
|Type of medical facilities |Frequency (N=105) |Percentage (%) |
|Govt. hospital |90 |85.71 |
|Non-govt. hospital |45 |42.86 |
|Homeopathy |29 |27.61 |
|Pharmacy |27 |25.71 |
|Ayurvedic practitioner |26 |24.76 |
|Others |6 |5.71 |
*More than one responses was possible
The Table no: 5.4 reveal that 85.71% of the respondents, this is the major portion, go to the government hospital for treatment. 42.86% of the respondents go to the non-govt. hospital and 27.61% take homeopathy treatment for illness. The table reveals that the workers are more conscious about their health. At present they are take modern treatment facilities in the hospital.
7.6 Information about Awareness
Table: 6.1 Respondent according to their knowledge on Dowry Prohibition Law
|Type of opinion |Married |Unmarried |Total |Percentage (%) |
| |Frequency |Percentage (%) |Frequency |Percentage (%) | | |
|Yes |63 |88.73 |25 |73.53 |88 |83.81 |
|No |8 |11.27 |9 |26.47 |17 |16.19 |
|Total |71 |100 |34 |100 |N=105 |100 |
|Percentage (%) |67.62 |32.38 |100 |
The Table show that the percentage distribution of the respondent according to their knowledge on Dowry Prohibition Law. 83.81% of the respondents know the law whereas 88.73% are married and 73.53% are unmarried. 16.19% of the respondent does not know the law whereas 11.27% are married and 26.47% are unmarried. The table reveals that the women worker at present more conscious about the dowry system. They are known that it is illegal.
Graph -17
Respondent according to their knowledge on Dowry Prohibition Law
Table: 6.2 Respondent according to their knowledge on Violence Protection Law
|Type of opinion |Married |Unmarried |Total |Percentage (%) |
| |Frequency |Percentage (%) |Frequency |Percentage (%) | | |
|Yes |55 |77.46 |11 |32.33 |66 |62.86 |
|No |16 |22.54 |23 |67.65 |39 |37.14 |
|Total |71 |100 |34 |100 |N=105 |100 |
The Table No: reveals the respondents knowledge on Violence Protection Law. 62.86% respondents know the law, whereas, 77.46% are married and 32.33% are unmarried. 37.14% of the respondents tell that they don’t know the law, whereas, 22.54% are married and 67.65% are unmarried. So here it is seen that the married women are more conscious than the unmarried women.
Graph -18
Respondent according to their knowledge on Violence Protection Law
❖ 75.24% workers know the marriage age according to our law but 24.76% workers don’t know the marriage age according to our law. So here it is seen that most of the workers are now conscious about their marriage.
❖ 70.43% workers are include their name in the voter list but the 29.52% workers are not include their name in the voter list because of under the age, migration etc.
Chapter Eight
Some Selected Case Studies
Introduction
Three case studies on the lives of three working women in the garment industry have been taken for in-depth investigation. However, they have been selected from the sampled women worker of the study. There are special reasons for the inclusion of a few case studies in this report. One must look through the experience of poor women worker to understand the real nature of her struggle in a male dominated society, where all the devices of social and economic discrimination are applied against her. This discrimination manifests itself in the type of activities in which women are mostly engaged, in the lower wages that they received as compared to their male counterparts and the long unregulated hours of work that they have to put in daily without protest.
In case study, the facts of the women’s life have been reveled exactly as she saw, felt and perceived them to happen. It is likely to be of assistance to policy makers and planners in their task of developing policies and plans to improve the situation of the hard working garments women worker in the RMG Industry.
Case study- One
[pic]
Rima kormoker
Name : Rima kormoker
Age : 28 years
Level of education : Can sign
Religion : Hindu
Occupation : Operator
Name of the gaement
Industry : Al-muslim Group
Marital Status : Separate
Family member : Three people (Rima and her two children)
Present address : Sutarnordd Arapara, Saver, Dhaka
Permanent address : Jessore.
Village home and childhood
Rima’s mother was a domestic worker. Her father died prematurely at age of 30, leaving behind four children. Rima’s was the third. Her mother did not send her to primary school; she can only sign her name. Before her marriage she is to live with her three sisters. She had taken up this work before the marriage for maintain livelihood. At First she started her work with Biwas Groups as a helper and earned 1600 taka per month. At present she works in the Al-muslim garment as an operator and earns 4000 taka per month.
Rima’s married life and children
When Rima was married at the age of 16 years, her husband Prodip was 21 years old. Rima’s marriage was a love marriage. But her husband Prodip demanded dowry. Her mother gave Rima wedding jewelry made of silver and a gold ring, 10,000 Taka and furniture. After marriage prodip took Rima to his owns home where she started her new life began and she left her job.
Riam gave birth to two children. She gave birth to her first child after about two years of marriage. When she gave birth to her second child the relationship between Rima and her husband is not good. One day her husband’s leave him and her father-in –law did not give any support. She backs her mother house and works in the garments factory. Now she earns about 4000 taka per month. Her elder daughter named Lily, who is 9 years old .She is reading in a school in class one. Lily’s younger brother is Dip about 7years old studies at NGOs runs school. Now Rima live with her mother and younger sister Ruma.
Migration to Dhaka
Riam’s family migrated to Dhaka when she was 8 years old with her mother for livelihood. They took shelter in a rented room at Sutarnordd Arapara in Saver under the Dhaka city. Her mother got a job as a domestic helper. But Rima’s mother could not manage her family with her low income. So Rima has taken a job in the garments factory in the early age for maintain her family. After the marriage she gives up her job and living a happy life with her husband. But unfortunately they are separated after the 9 years of her married life. Then Rima re- joins in a garments factory as operator.
Life in the Saver
Rima lives at Arapara baste in Saver under the Dhaka city. This slum has come up illegally on government owned land. Rima lives in a small house made of tin and bamboo. In summer, the house becomes too hot and in winter too cold. There is one entrance into the house but no windows. Rima does not have a separate kitchen. She cooks on a gas stove sharing with others people in the bastee. There is not a single piece of furniture except a big “Chowki” (Wooden bed) in Rima’s house. She has a few plastic plates, a few cooking utensils with enamel coating. Rima’s family has no separate latrine for the family members. They share a latrine with a few other families of the bastee. There is no supply of pipe water in the slum. It lacks the minimum urban facilities for living.
Rima’s working life
Rima is a wage-employed woman who has taken up garment working to earn an income. She has been in this work for about 10 years. She works in an export oriented garment factory as an operator. For doing a specific job she gets a specific amount of money. She also does overtime duty. After taking the breakfast from own home, she rushes for the work at 7 in the morning. She works 8 A.M. to 1 P.M. at a stretch. Then she enjoys 1 hour break and by this time she take her mid-day meal which she brings with her from home in the morning. Again she beings her work and continues it up to evening. Ending the works she rushes home. Sometimes she does some marketing on the road. In her working place, some ill-natured male counterparts try to harass her now and then. She makes her save from those persons. Sometimes continuous working for almost the whole day exhausts her. Long absence from home also creates problems for her child.
Rima’s family life
Rima’s family consists of five members. Her two children are students. Rima’s mother lives with them and take care her children. Her younger sisters Ruma is an operator in a garment industry and she also live with her. The total income of her is around taka 4500, which is not sufficient for her family of five members. As Rima has to spend all most all the day outside her home, since she cannot spend keep much time for her family members specially her son. So her younger son is becoming disobedient and spoils. She has good relationship with her family members.
Daily food
Rima cooked twice a day morning and after coming back from work. They used tocooks mainly rice, vegetable, dal and try to fish. In the occasion they enjoy meat. Rima does not use cosmetics except some oil and soap.
Health care
Rima lives under poverty line. For treatment of her family members she goes to Kabiraj. She has no idea about modern and scientific health care facilities.
Outlooks on women and development
Rima thinks that women should not stay at home. They should work outside the homes. She says that in our so-called male dominated society women are the victims of disparity. If women can earn and supplement family incomes, it is possible to restore peace at home; it also helps improve women’s status.
Religion
Rima is religious minded. Although she cannot stay her prayers regularly, her faith in God is unshakable. But she has no religious dogmatism.
Recreation
Rima has to spend almost all the day outside her home. She comes back home at evening. She has a tape-recorder in her home. She enjoys it when she feels interest. Sometimes she also goes to her neighbor’s home to watch T.V programmed. She does not participated any political activities and never attendant any meeting.
Future plan
At present Rima is not economically well off. Having no other alternative she has does not any education qualification, she want to continue the job as long as she can. She is worried about her son’s future and the marriage of the daughter. She hopes her son will be educated and will get a job. When her son will be established, she will find a nice bride for her son and live with them. At the same time she things that if her son does not give her any shelter, she will go back to her own village. But she hopes her son will look after his mother in her old-age.
Case study- Two
[pic]
Samima Sultana Shipon
Name : Samima Sultana Shipon
Age : 32 years
Level of education : Class eight
Religion : Islam
Occupation : Operator
Name of the garment
Industry : Al- muslim Group
Marital Status : Widow
Family member : Six members (Samima and her five children)
Present address : Bank colony, Saver, Dhaka
Permanent address : Narail district
Garments worker Samima lives at the Bank colony bastee located within Saver Thana under the Dhaka city. She comes from Narail district. At present, she works in a garment industry located it Savar. She was from a well-to-do farmer’s family. Although she becomes a widow in early life, she did not remarry a second time apprehending the ill fate of her children. Instead she engages herself as garments worker where she works all day long and returns home exhausted in the evening.
Village home and childhood
Samima’s father was a farmer and her mother is a housewife. He had some farm yielding paddy and vegetables. Samima was the second. Her fathers send her to school and she completed class 8 level. She was married off at the early age to fifteen.
Wedding and married life
Samima was married to a youth of 20 years named Masud Sk. He lived in Narail district. He was a farmer. After the marriage Masud took Samima to his own village home where her new life began. He could manage his family with his moderate income. But unfortunately her husband died prematurely at the age of 40, living behind five children.
Migration to Dhaka
Samima came to Dhaka after the death of her husband in 2009. They took shelter in a rented room at Savar and got a job as a garment worker in the All-muslim group. Now she is only an earning person in her family.
Life in the Saver
Samima lives in a small house made of cement and tin. There is one entrance into the house and no windows. There is no separate cooking shed. She cooks on a gas stove in narrow space with sharing her neighbors. There is not a single piece of furniture expect a big “Chowki” (wooden bed) in Samima’s house. She has a few plastic plates, a few cooking utensils with enamel coating. Samima’s family has no separate latrine for her family members. They share a latrine with a few other families. They are use pipe water for drinking and others use.
Samima’s working life
Samima is a garment worker. She has been in this work for about 3 years. She worked in an export oriented garment industry as an operator. She also does overtime duty. After taking the breakfast from own home, she rushes for the work at 7 in the morning. She works 8 A.M. to 1 P.M. at a stretch. Then she enjoys 1 hour break and by this time she take her mid-day meal which she brings with her from home in the morning. Again she beings her work and continues it up to evening. Ending the works she rushes home. Sometimes she does some marketing on the road. Sometimes continuous working for almost the whole day exhausts her.
Samima’s family life
There are five members in her family. Her elder son read in class 10 and her elder daughter Ahki read in class 7. Samima’s twin baby Sumya and Murium are read in class seven. After death her husband Samima’s only an earning person of her family. As compared to the expenditure to her big size family, this amount is very small. Her relationship with her children is good. So, being a poor-working woman Samima always tries to lead a happy family life.
Daily food
Samima usually cooks rice, vegetable, dal, if possible, fish twice in a day. During festiable enjoy meat. She does her necessary shopping if possible returning from work. Samima does not use cosmetics except some oil and soap.
Health care
She does not any ideas about the modern scientific health care system. While she or her family members fall in ill, she goes for kabiraji treatment.
Outlooks on women and development
Samima opines that women should not dependent only her husband’s income. They should go to work outside the home to earn a livelihood for economic upliftment of the family. She has heard about training and other program’s launched by NGO’s but she never participated in any programs.
Religion
Samima is a devotee of muslim. Although she has a desire to say her prayers, being too busy, she does not have the time to pray five times a day. She usually keeps fast in the month of Ramadan.
Recreation
Regarding recreation she does not have anything she can enjoy. But sometimes she enjoys TV programs with her neighbor house. And tried to gossip with them her leisure time.
Future plan
Hope springs eternal from the human breast. Samima thinks that her economic crisis will not longer. Her son will earn a good income in the near future and she can depend on him. She become a widow in her early age and did not marry for the second time, rather she tired her best to bring up the children. In return, she expects that they will take care of her in future. She also thinks that when her son will earn a big amount, they will leave the slum and back to the village in the better environment.
Case study- Three
Name : Halima
Age : 30 years
Religion : Islam
Level of education : Class five
Occupation : Operator
Name of the garment
Industry : Doel Group of Industry
Marital Status : Married
Family member : For members (Halima, her husband and her two children)
Present address : South para, Saver, Dhaka
Permanent address : Comilla district
Garment worker Halima currently lives at the Saver located within Dhaka City. She was from Comilla district. At present, she works in a garment industry located it Saver. She has taken up this work soon after came to Dhaka in search of a livelihood.
Halima’s married life and children
When Halima was married at the age of 15 years, her husband Rafiq was 22/23 years old. Halima’s marriage was an arranged one. But her husband Rafiq did not claim any dowry from Halima’s father on the other hand he gave Halima weeding jewelry made of sliver and a gold ring. After marriage Rafiq took Halima to his own village home where her new life began.
Halima gave birth to 4 children, of whom three are living. Among the living children, the eldest one is a daughter named Lipi, who is 13 years old. She has been married one year ago. Lipi’s younger sister Lily is about 10 years old. She lives with her mother Halima. She works in a garment factory and earns about taka 3000 per month. Halima’s youngest child is Liton who is only 7 years old. He is reading in a school in class one.
Migration to Dhaka
Halima migrated to Dhaka with her husband and children. Rafiq had to sell the farmland near his homestead to his cousin. His cousin not only bought the farmland but also took away his homestead through a fake deed, which was also registered, keeping illiterate Rafiq in the dark about it. He came to know about it 2/3 years after the sale of the land. He leaft no stone unturned to regain these. But his efforts proved false. Finding no other alternatives Rafiq, with his wife and children, came to Dhaka to earn their livelihood and to save the amount needed to get back his homestead and mortgage land. Since then Halima has been living in the Saver with her family.
Halima’s life in the Saver
Halima lives at south para, Saver in the Dhaka City. She lives in a rent house which is made of bamboo and tin. In summer, the house becomes too hot and in winter too cold. Water from the rainfall easily enters their room. The room has a door but no window. Halima does not have a separate kitchen. She cooks on mud stove inside her one roomed house. There is no sign of any furniture inside the house. On one side of the shed there are some utensils a clay pitcher, an aluminum jug, three aluminum plates, one old trunk and some cloths. Halima’s family shares a latrine made of cement and tin with some other families. She has to play some money per month for using the latrine.
Halima’s working life
Halima is a wage-employed woman who has taken up garment working to earn an income. She has been in this work for about 5 years. She works in a RMG industry. For doing a specific job she gets a specific amount of money. She also does overtime duty. After taking the breakfast from own home, she rushes for work at 7 in the morning. She works 8A.M. to 1P.M. at a stretch. Then she enjoys one hour break and by this time she takes her mid-day meal which she brings with her from home in the morning. Again she begins her work and continues it up to evening. Ending the works she rushes home. Sometimes she does some marketing on the road. In her working place, some ill-natured male counterparts try to harass her now and then. She makes her sane from those persons. Sometimes continuous working for almost the whole day exhausts her. Long absence from home also creates problems for her child.
Halima’s family life
Halima’s family consists of four members. Her husband is a vegetable vender. He earns TK. 1000 per month. Her eldest daughter is married. She lives in her husband home. Halima’s younger daughter Lipi works in the same garment where her mother works. Her younger child Liton is school going boy. As Halima cannot spend much time on Liton’s purpose, he mixes with the bad company and does not go to school regularly. The overall relationship among the family members is good. Halima’s husband has bad habit for smoking and playing cards in the night. Halima’s for bits him but he does not pay heed to her wards. In this issue, they sometimes make quarrel.
Daily Food
Halima cooks twice a day. She cooks in the morning and after coming back home from work. She cooks mainly rice, vegetable, dal, if possible, fish. In the occasion they enjoy meat. Halima saves as much as the family earnings permit her. She deposits her savings with a small businessman who pals an interest of taka 5 on her deposits. She keeps both the principal and interest with him. Her savings now stand at taka 3000 plus.
Health care
So far, Halima did not suffer from too many ailments or health problems. But occasionally she suffers from severe pain in her legs as she has to cover long distances on foot every day. Her daughter Lily had an attack of typhoid a few days back. Then she was brought to doctor for allopathic treatment. Halima has no faith in folk cures like wearing amulets or drinking holy water. She feels that the saintly faiths of earlier days do not exist anymore. She buys medicine from the market whenever she needs any. Halima holds positive views on family planning. She takes oral piles as a method of family planning. As she thinks that too many children become a burden on a poor.
Outlooks on women and development
Halima thinks that women should not stay a home. They should work outside the homes. She says that in our so-called male dominated society women are the victims of disparity. If women can earn and supplement family incomes, it is possible to restore peace at home; it also helps improve women’s status. She has a little knowledge about the organization and programmers providing skill training to women. But she did not avail any of these.
Religion
Halima is religious minded. Although she can say her prayers regularly, her faith in Allah is unshakable. But she has no religious dogmatism.
Recreation
Halima has a black and white TV in her home. She enjoys cinema, drama, sings and various cultural functions. In leisure she gossips away time. She is not politically conscious. She, somehow, know the name of the present Prime Minister of the country. She does not take part in any political meetings.
Future plan
Halima intends to save some money as she is worried about her son’s future and the marriage of the daughter. She hopes her son will be educated and will get a job. When her son will be established, she will find a nice bride for her son and live with them. If her son does not give her ant shelter, she will go back to her own village. But she hopes her son will look after his mother in her old age.
Chapter Nine
9.1 Major Findings of the study
Women are important human resources in all developed and developing countries and their roles are significant and meaningful in the changing world. About fifty percent of the populations in Bangladesh are women and they are playing direct or indirect role in economic development. In Bangladesh a large number of female workers are engaged in garment industry. Most of them come from families with poor socioeconomic status.
The Study is conducted to explore the socio-economic condition of the women worker in the RMG industry is the base of the new wage structure. The following brief account of the study findings is presented here to fulfill those specific objectives or a research questions at a glance and to cite an overview of the whole study findings.
The present survey findings reveal that the majority of the respondents living are non-local. They come to Dhaka from 20 districts. Maximum number of workers is from Mymensing 13.33%. Rangpur comes next with 9.52%. Successive positions are hold by other districts such as Barisal Jessor, Jamalpur, Narail, Satkhira and Chandpur.
One outstanding feature of the study can be noticed that women worker in the RMG sector are younger than the male worker and they are working as helper and operator in the RMG Industry. The youngest group of the workers in the vast majority (31.58 %) working in the RMG sector as helper is in the age groups of 15-25 years.
Sex and occupational distribution of employed women is an important indicator of the real status of the women workers in the employment sector. The study indicates that the cutting sectors (20%) and finishing sectors (20%) are dominated by the male workers whereas, the female workers dominated the sectors operator (56.84%) and helper (38.94%).
The out of 10 males workers 70% are has get the education level up to J.S.C or above & 60% of them are involved with swing, cutting & finishing sectors. From the study it is seen that there is no male helper and the workers who can only sign and can sign & read are machine operators (30%). The study shows that male counterparts are more educated with better occupation. So the rates of women education are lower than the male counterparts in the RMG sector.
The highest percent, i.e.51.43% of the respondent are married, 32.38% are unmarried, 8.57% are separation, 4.76% are widow and 2.88% are divorced. Here it is clearly seen that there is a positive relation between the jobs are marriage. That means the women who are occupying a job have the positive trend to marriage bondage. Divorced and separation rate in the RMG worker cannot also be ignored.
The major portion, 32.38% of the respondents monthly income between the range of 3000-3500, whereas 47.06% of the respondents working in the RMG sector is young who are between the age group 20-25 years. Only 7.62 percent of the respondent monthly income is between the 5000-5500 TK, whereas 37.5% worker between the ages group 25-30 years.
This data reveals that 9.53% of the female workers are still getting below 3000 TK. It’s also noticeable that some industries are still violating the govt. policy as well as New Wage Structure.
The study reveals that most of the workers in the RMG sector earn very low- income is not enough to meet up the basic needs with the increasing price of daily necessary good.
The mean income of the workers is 3983.33Tk. Maximum of them 23.81% are getting 4000-4500 TK. whereas, most of them 22.85% are operator & 1.90% finishing worker. It is followed by (3000-3500 TK.) 21.90% most of whom are helpers. Only 29.98% gets 4500-5500 TK. whereas most of them operators from swing, cutting finishing.
The major portion 23.81% of the respondent’s monthly income is between the ranges 4000-4500 and there is 64% completed JSC level and 36% completed primary education. Only 10.48% of the respondent’s monthly income is between the ranges 5000-5500 and there are 18.18% completed primary education, 54.55% completed JSC and 27.27% completed SSC. The study shows that experience is more countable than education. So not only their educational qualification but also experience is an important factor in the RGM industry.
The mean expenditure of the respondents is 4411.90 TK. The major portion, 22.86 % of the respondent’s expends between the ranges of taka 5000-5500. The second highest, 20.95% of the respondent’s expends between the ranges of taka 3000-3500. Only 16.19% is seen to expend between the ranges of the 5500-6000. No worker is seen to expend more than 6000 taka. So in comparing the expenditure with income level, it is seen that there is a little difference between the income and expenditure. As a result the workers cannot save money for their future life.
Among them 24.76%, the highest number of the respondents are in the range of 10-14 years. The second level is between the range of 5-9 years and the percent is 17.14%. From this study we can give the assurance that the conjugal life of the respondents is indicates. There is a high rate of divorce, which indicates the disorder, unstable and unhappiness of their family life.
This study shows that 20% respondent want to married between the range of 20-22 years and 12.38% respondent opine on the marriage age in the range of 23-25 years. So it can be imagined that most of respondents are conscious about their marriage age. They know the bad effect of the early marriage.
The highest number of family members (50.38%) is seen in the range of 3-4 persons, which are keeping the policy “Two Children”. Only 23.81% of the respondent’s family members are in the range of 1-2 persons. 4.76% of the respondents have more than 7 persons of the family members which indicate the unconsciousness as well as the over population of the country. There is a great trend of early marriage among the women workers with lack of consciousness they give birth children in the early age, which acts upon their health as well as their working life.
The workers changes one garment to another garment frequently may be for better salary, better facilities and for better environment. The study shows that involvement of the workers in the RMG industry for 8+ years (7.61%).
The shows that 65.74% of the respondent said that they have got the appointment letter when they are involved in the present working place. 34.29% of the respondent tells that they have not get any appointment letter in the present working place. As a result the owner of the garments industry can easily dismiss their worker and give appoint new worker.
In most of the garment industries overtime is compulsory. In some cases workers do it having any consideration by the owners is that for better livelihood. 78.10% of the workers do the overtime. Only 36.59% workers get their due salary. But 63.41% workers do not get their overtime as per the rules. This deprivation is done by taking the advantage of their poverty, lack of awareness, education and the absence of tread union.
The present study shows that most of garments follow the new wage structure. But some garment industry cannot do this. They are deprived their worker. As a result worker are cannot get their actual salary. The major portion 92.38% of the respondents tell that their garment owner pay their salary according to the new wage structure. Only 7.62% tell that their garments do not pay their salary according to their new wage structure.
After promote the new wage structure the life standard of RMG women worker are change. The study reveal that 52.38% of the respondents tell that after increasing the salary scale their level of livelihood is change. 35.24% of the respondents opine are no change and only 12.38% respondents told that their condition is Worth’s. But a mentionable group of worker said that their life standard is not change because their salary level is not increase as they want.
The present study shows that major portions of the women worker are not satisfied on their new wage structure because it is not enough for their livelihood. 59.05% of the respondents are satisfied and 40.95% of the respondents are not satisfied on their new wage structure.
The longest concentration of the sampled women workers (75.24%) relationship with their authority is good and soso. 14.29% opine for very well while the marginal (10.47%) of the respondents have a bad relationship. So it can be imagined that most of the respondent bears a satisfactory relationship with their authority.
Out of total respondents105, 100% worker tells that they get maternity leave with full salary and the same percent get bonus for Eid festival. 57.14% of the respondents tell that they enjoy canteen facilities and 71.43% get medical facilities, only 54.29% respondent tells that they have a day care center but it is for rules. The owner cannot allow the workers with their children in the factory. 23.81% respondent tells that they get Tiffin but when they are doing overtime.
Out of total (105) workers the highest concentration of the respondent, about 80.95%, shorts the attendance bonus for absent. 52.38% respondent tells that the bad behavior for the absent and 38.10% respondents tell that short the weekly leave. Only 28.57% of the respondents detect Physical punishment and it violence the human rights of the workers.
In the absence of appropriate organization the workers are unable to prevent infringements in their rights and the owner of the garments industry can easily deprived their worker. The 82.86% of the respondents tell that they have no opportunities to involve in the trade union and 17.14% of the respondents tell that their garments industries allow trade union.
Work in the garment industry empowers the female garment workers, both socially and economically. The vital majority of the respondents (31.91%) opine that their family income and life standard is increase for working in the garment industry. 25.53% respondents opine is working in the garment industry also empowers them to improve their consumption level and housing condition. 23.41% respondents said that they can bear their own expenditure and 19.15% respondents opine that they can sent their children for education.
The mean of the house rent of the respondent is 1022.38 TK. 60.96% of the major portion of the respondent and their monthly house rent between the ranges of 700-1200TK. 39.04% of the respondent house rent between the ranges of 1300-2000 TK. So in comparing the house rent with income level, it is seen that the house rent is so high than the income rate.
The table reveals that the RMG workers live in a miserable life. The major portion, 52.38% respondents opine are 3 to 4 persons live in a room. 31.43% respondents tell that 1-2 persons live in a room. 5.71% respondents tell that more than 7 persons live in a room.
Recreation is such activity, which helps to bring freshness in mind, removes monotony of works and provides encouragement to work. 48.62% of the respondents have TV in their family for recreation and 11.93%of the respondents are seen to enjoy Radio. 29.36% of the women worker in the garments industry is deprived of this facility and it is due to their lack income.
At present they are take modern treatment facilities in the hospital. 85.71% of the respondents go to the government hospital for treatment. 42.86% of the respondents go to the non-govt. hospital and 27.61% take homeopathy treatment for illness. The study reveals that the workers are more conscious about their health.
The study reveals that the women worker at present more conscious about the dowry system. They are known that it is illegal. 83.81% of the respondents know the law whereas 88.73% are married and 73.53% are unmarried. 16.19% of the respondent does not know the law whereas 11.27% are married and 26.47% are unmarried.
About 62.86% respondents know the Violence Protection Law, whereas, 77.46% are married and 32.33% are unmarried. 37.14% of the respondents tell that they don’t know the law, whereas, 22.54% are married and 67.65% are unmarried. So here it is seen that the married women are more conscious than the unmarried women.
From these findings some distinctive problem of the women workers in the garment industries can be find out easily. These are low wage, low education level, not to have leave, insecurity of work, lack of tread union, lack of knowledge and skill etc. So the Govt. policy or New Wage Structure is not enough for their livelihood. Low wage of the working places can be regarded as the key cause for the low level of the socio-economic condition of the garment workers.
9.2 Recommendations
The prime objective of a research work is to analyze a specific problem deeply and to draw a recommendation. The research work becomes fruitful through the implementation of the recommendation. The present study entitled A study of the impact of government policy on changing the socio-economic condition of the women worker in the RMG industry is a new one of its kind. Many research works have been seen to be conducted regarding RMG sector, but no research has yet been seen to be conducted regarding the impact of government policy on changing the socio-economic condition of the women worker in the RMG industry. So, this research claims something new. Multiples information has been reviewed regarding the socio-economic life of the women worker in the RMG sector applying the interview technique. Some recommendations have been cited here to change the socio-economic problems of the women worker in the RMG industries-
• The minimum wage for the garments worker is much lower than the livelihood. So the wage of the garment workers should be increase according to their needs and demands.
• Workers needs and rights should be fulfilled and payment should be given on time. Owner of the RMG industry should be given the opportunity to express their demands and needs.
• Women workers have no job security. They can’t make any complain against violations as there is fear of losing jobs. To overcome the problem, we have to be more conscious of ‘image’ and we have to assure basic workers right and the implementation of labour laws. This will have a positive impact on the productivity of the female workers.
• The government can make hostels for the teenage working girls in the garments zone. Each zone needs to have a medical center, school and housing faculties for the garment workers.
• Low level of education among the female workers was responsible for most of the socio-economic problems facing the workers in the garment industry. Hence, measures need to be adopted to encourage enrollment of girls, especially in secondary education and above, in order to improve their efficiency.
• In the research finding it is clear that most of the women workers can not save any of the income, The owner groups should increase their wage as well as to introduce a mandatory saving system for all women, which can give them assurance of security in need.
• Most of the occupational hazards were found to arise from widespread violation or non-observance of labour laws. Laws regarding fire fighting equipment and fire exits should be strictly followed. The workers should also be taught how to use fire-fighting equipment. Measures should also be undertaken to formulate policy regarding proper electrical wiring and provisioning masks, aprons and safe drinking water to the workers.
• Living area of the garment workers has fragile and poor infrastructures. Techniques should be adopted and implemented to manage pure drinking water, electricity, gas and sanitation facilities. Necessary publicity and educational systems are needed functions both Govt. and NGO level to raise awareness among the people.
• The Government of Bangladesh may take an initiative to establish health centers at those locations where the garment factories are clustered and give free service for the workers.
• Work stresses of the garment workers can be reduced to great extant if the workers have time to relax during work. The New Labour code 2010 that provides for recreational room for the workers. So this provision should be implemented to relieve the women worker from stress.
• For recreational purposes the authority could provide a common room having TV, indoor game facilities. For relaxing purposes of the female workers during leisure period, the authority could also provide common room facilities.
• The daily commodity price should be reducing for the worker. The government should be provides rationing system of the RMG workers.
• The present study noted that, most of the garment industries have a day-care for children. But it just for law. The owner of the garment industries cannot allow the workers with their children. So ensure the proper used of the day-care center according to the new labour law.
• To increase the supply of skilled labour and skilled management personnel.
• In the absence of appropriate organizations the women workers are unable to present infringements into their rights. Ideally, the initiative should come from the worker themselves.
• Less wage, complex condition of work and communicating hazards are detected as the fundamental problems of the women workers. Effective measures should be taken to solve these problems by meeting the owner groups.
• Lack of skills and competencies are the reasons of low wage for the working women. They should be aware skilled human resources through proper education and training in the specific field.
The garment industry takes this following aspect for the well-being of the women workers-
• Health insurance
• Education for women
• Provident fund
• Pension
• Children care facilities
• Training for accidental and occupational hazard
9.3 Conclusion
The RMG industry has turned into a main pillar of the Bangladesh economy, accounting for three-fourth of the country’s total export earnings. Garments industry also played a prominent role in opening the means of livelihood to poor migrant female labour, presenting an opportunity for waged employment of poor women and promoting other local economic activities. It is the biggest industrial sector in terms of labour force. Garment is the highest export earner of the country and the highest profit-earning industry.
Women worker in the RMG industry live amidst appalling poverty without having access to the minimum of the urban facilities. House-rent accounts for half the monthly income; home is a windowless room in a concrete building shared with five others or a sweltering hutment of tin. The garment workers are being compressed into a declining area of the city, while factories, palaces blazing with light, tower over slums and tenements.
They are confronted with numerous socio-economic and psychological problems primarily caused by unhealthy housing, lack of social security, insecure and low income, high price of daily necessities, lack of health education and recreational opportunities. These social imbalances have created differential attitudes towards family life and other issue crucial to the socio-economic development of our country.
Women worker help keep the economy on going on in the garment industries. But they are victims of disparity in their working places. They work for longer hours but receive marginal salary. Sometimes they are seen to be harassed by the male counterparts or by the owner groups.
Garments workers sweat their blood in the process of production of garment in the factories. So the garment workers should be paid minimum wage by taking into consideration their overall cost of living, the costs of food, clothing, shelter and health care.
In order to bring about an overall improvement in the situation of the women worker in the RMG industries, they should be brought into the mainstream of the economic. Furthermore, a strong social will should also be created in the community in favour of improving the socio-economic condition of the women worker, caught into the vicious circle of poverty, through education, communication and awareness building. The mass media can play an important role in this direction by educating and molding public opinion.
The combined efforts of all concerned may bring these poverty- stricken women workers into greater visibility and help them rise above the present situation.
Appendices
Appendix one
Glossary
BBS- Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
BEZPA-Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority
BGMEA- Bangladesh Manufacturers and Exporters Association
BIDS – Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies
CEDAW - Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women
EPB-Export Promotion Bureau
EPZ- Export Processing Zone
GO – Government organization
ILO- International Labor Organization
MFA-Multi-Fiber Arrangement
NGO – Non- Government organization
RGM – Readymade Garment Industry
Taka (TK) – Monetary unit of Bangladesh (US $ 1= approximately TK. 74 during 2011)
UNDP – United Nations Development Programmed
WB- World Bank
Appendix Two
Bibliography
1. Absar, Syeda Sharmin, “Living Conditions of the women workers in the RMG sector in Bangladesh” 1999, National Centre for Development Studies (NCDS), Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
2. Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), A Survey on 283 factories, 1999, BIDS, Dhaka
3. Babul, Parvez, 2006, “Educate girls for social benefit”, The Daily Star, 30 September, Dhaka, P-11
4. Bangladesh Economic Review, 2010, Economic Adviser’s wing Finance Division, Ministry of Finance Government of Bangladesh of the People of Bangladesh, April, 2010.
5. Begum, R.N. Ali, F.,M.M. Salehin and K.S. Farid, “Livelihood pattern of rural women garment workers at Dhaka city”2008, Department of Rural Sociology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202
6. Begum, Dr. Nazma “Enforcement of Safety Regulations in the Garment Sector of Bangladesh” 1996, BIDS, Dhaka
7. Chowdhury, Nushart Jahan; 2005, Empowerment in Bangladesh: Some Concepts and Concerns, ‘Empowerment’, Vol-12, Women for Women, (Research and study Group), Shukrabad, Dhaka, P.17-34.
8. Current Affairs, July, 2011
9. Current Affairs, October, 2010
10. DEVI, LAXMI, 1998, “ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF WOMEN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY WELFARE”, Anmol Publications, New Delhi.
11. EPB, The daily Star, Exports back on track, eye on global crisis, page: 11, reading no: 781, vol: 296, November15, 2011, Dhaka.
12. Hasan, Mehedi, “Bishwa Bazare Toiri Poshaker Mullya32 Shotangsho Komechhe” (Apparel price has fallen by 32 per cent in the World market), The Daily Ittefaq, 58th Year, No.211, 26 July 2010.
13. Hossain, Md. Ismail; 2004, “Paribarik porjayee Narir Khomotayan O NGO Udyo: Ekti Porjalochona, Khomotayan”, Women for Women (Research and study Group), Vol-6, Shukrabad, Dhaka.
14. Hussian, Maansura, "Nitinidarona Narrie Onsogahon Hotashajnok" The Prothom Alo, 13th year, No. 264, 2August 2011, Spceial Report, Dhaka.
15. Hyder, Monir, “Garmentse Ashoni Songket” (Foreboding of a thundercrash in the Garments Sector), The Daily Ittefaq, 58th Year, No. 139, 15May 2010
16. Jahan, Momtaj; 2006, Empowerment of women: Bangladesh Perspective, ‘Empowerment’, Vol-13, Women for Women (Research and study Group), Vol-6, Shukrabad, Dhaka, P.55-72
17. Jugantar, 11th Year, No.169, 23 July 2010, “Garment Sramikder Mojori Nirdharon Sombar” (Wage for the Garments Workers will be ascertained on Monday).
18. Kabir, Farah; 1995, Political Empowerment of women: Equitable society, ‘Towards Beijing and Beyond: Women Shaping polities in Areas of Concern’, Shamim, Ishart and Salahuddin, khaleda (Ed), Center for Women and Childern Studies, Dhaka.
19. Mahtab, Nazmunnessa, “Female of Garment Workers: Economic and Security”, (Role of NGO in Effective Implementation of PFA and CEDAW in Bangladesh), 2003, BIDS, Agargan, Dhaka.
20. Majumder, Pratima Paul, Hewett, Sajeda Amin, 2000, “Assessing the Impact of Garment Work on Quality of Life Measures”, BIDS, Agargan, Dhaka.
21. Majumder,Dr. Pratima Paul, Junury, 2000, “Occupational Hazards and Health Consequences of the Growth of Garment Industry in Bangladesh”, BIDS, Dhaka
22. MDG Progress Report 2005: Bangladesh
23. Ministry of women and children Affairs; Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; and Ministry of Planning; 2002, Statistical Profile of women in Bangladesh, Government of People’s Republic Bangladesh, December, Dhaka.
24. Nahar, Mrs. Shamsun, 2002, “Report on Assessing the Situation of Violence and Harassment on Working Women at Workplaces”, women for women, Dhaka.
25. Paul-Majumder, Pratima; 2003, “Health Status of the Garment Workers in Bangladesh” Project to Report series, No.01, BIDS, Dhaka.
26. Prothom-alo, 13th years, No.334, 14 October 2011, “Prothom parntic roptani probide 22% orjito hoyni lokhomatra”, page-15, Dhaka.
27. Puneker,S.D.et.al, “Labour Welfare , Trade Unions and Industrial Relations”, The Declaration of Philadephia ,197 4,Pt.iii Himaloya Publishing House Bombay India.
28. Rahman, Syeed Mizanur, “Mojuri Barlo Poshak Sramikder” (The Wage of Garments Workers has increased), The Daily Ittefaq, 58th Year, No.216, 1 August 2010, Economics Supplement.
29. Rahman, Syeed Mizanur, “Songkot- Sambhabonar Poshak Khat” (Garments Sector of Crisis and Prospect), The Daity Ittefaq, 58th Year, No. 196, 11 July 2010, Economics Supplement
30. Selim, Muzahidul Islam, “Garments-a 5 Hazar Taka Nunotomo Mojuri Keno Chai” (Why Taka 5 thousand is necessary as minimum Wage in the Garments Industry), The Daily Ittefaq, 58th Year, No.207, 22 July 2010.
31. Selim, Muzahidul Islam, “Garments-a 5 Hazar Taka Nunotomo Mojuri Keno Chai” (Why Taka 5 thousand is necessary as minimum Wage in the Garments Industry), The Daily Ittefaq, 58th Year, No.207, 22 July 2010
32. Siddiqi, Hafiz G.A., “The Readymade Garment Industry of Bangladesh” (Role of NGO in Effective Implementation of PFA and CEDAW in Bangladesh), 2003, BIDS, Agargan, Dhaka.
33. Singha, N and Titi, V.; 1997, Empowerment: Towards Sustainable Development, Farnwood Publishing, New Delhi
34. The Daily Ittefaq, 58th Year, No. 216, 1 August 2010, News Item sub-captioned: “Sramikder Rationer Jonno Sarkar Bhartuki Debe” (The government will give subsidy to rationing for the workers), Dhaka.
35. The Daily Star, No.187, 22 July 2010, “Hasina: Garment Wage inhumane” (New pay structure by July 28), News Item.
36. The Daily Star, No.189, 24 July 2010, “Mirpur erupts in protests” (RMG worker’s mysterious death sparks clash with police; 11 held), News Item.
37. The Daily Star, No.195, 31 July 2010, “RMG wage sparks violent protest”, (Rampaging workers vandalize over 200 business establishment, several factories in city a day after announcement of new pay structure), News Item.
38. The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI); 2006, “Women Entrepreneur’s Directionary" 2006, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka.
39. The Prothom Alo, No.249, 17July2011,’ Bangladesh Johnosonkha 14 coity 23 lakh’ News Item.
40. United Nation; 1995, The Advancement of Women, Department of Public Information.
41. Wasif, Faruq, “Poshaksramik” (Garments Workers), Prothom Alo, 12th Year, No. 251, 19 July 2010.
42. Zohir, Salam Chaudhuri, Pratima Paul Majumder, October1996, “Garment workers in Bangladesh: Economic, Social and Health condition” BIDS, Dhaka.
Website
• Wikipedia, the free .
•
•
•
Appendix Three
Interview Schedule 01
Institute of Social work & Research
University of Dhaka
Dhaka-1205
Study Title: A study of the impact of government policy on changing the socio-economic condition of the women worker in the RMG industry
(Information will only be used for study purpose and will be kept confidential)
Interview schedule no: ………….
Date: …………..
Interview schedule
1. Name of garments and address:
2. Name and rank:
3. Age: ………….years
4. Educational qualification:
5. Working year:
6. Establishment of garment:
7. Types of production:
8. How many people working in your garment at present:
|Type |Rank |Salary |Male |Female |Total |
|Officer | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|Staff | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|Labour | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|Total | | | | | |
9. What are the facilities for the workers in your garment?
i) Tiffin ii) Picnic iii) Transports facilities iv) Bonus v) Canteen vi) Maternity leave/ facilities vii) Day-care facilities viii) Bema ix) Medical facilities x) Housing facilities xi) Others
10. What type of infrastructure in your garment?
* Own………
* Rent………
11. How much production in your garment?
12. Have any alternative way for worker to come out during earthquake and fire accident?
13. What kinds of safety systems providing from your garment?
14. Have the workers any permission to organize trade union in your garment?
15. What is the present salary scale in your garment?
(Thank you for your Help)
……………………
Signature of interviewer
Interview Schedule 02
Institute of Social work & Research
University of Dhaka
Dhaka-1205
Study Title: A study of the impact of government policy on changing the socio-economic condition of the women worker in the RMG industry
(Information will only be used for study purpose and will be kept confidential)
Interview schedule no: ………….
Date: …………..
Interview schedule
(A) Demographic Information of the Respondents
1. Name of Garment’s and address :
2. Type of Productions:
3. Name:
4. Age: ……………year
5. Educational qualification:
6. Type of profession:
7. Present address:
8. Permanent address:
9. Religion:
10. Marital status:
(B) Information about Economic and Family Affair
12. Give your family information in this table-
|Name |Age |Relation |Education |
|Drinking water|Other |Good |Not good | | |
| | | | | | |
47. Say about your daily food menu…
* Breakfast
* Lunch
* Dinner
48. Have any recreational system in your family?
* Radio
* Television
* Tape recorder
* Others
* No one
49. From where do you take the medical facilities?
* Govt. hospital
* Non Govt. hospital
* Homeopathic
* Pharmacy
* Ayurbedic practitioner
* Others
(F) Information about Awareness
50. Do you know the girls married age according to our law?
51. Have you been voter?
If no, mention the cause…
52. What’s your opinion about the dowry system?
53. Do you know the law against dowry system?
If know, mention it…
54. Do you know the punishment of the torture?
If know, mention it…
(Thank you for your Help)
Observation of the interviewer about the respondent
* General health:
* Good
* So so
* Sickness
* Dress up:
* Cleanliness
* So so
* Dirty
* Attention:
* Deep
* So so
* Inattention
* To help providing information:
* Normal
* Providing wrong information
* To hide the real information
* Unhelpful
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.
Related download
- power stratification in the soviet type system socio
- salesian brothers and the socio economic
- the judicial enforcement of socio economic rights
- intellectual property aspects of socio economic research
- socio economic status ses trends schooling human
- socio economic reporting questionnaire
- socio economic profile ilembe profile 2009
- assignment point
- socio economic empowerment of women and
Related searches
- writing assignment for 2nd grade
- aesop substitute assignment aesop online
- 6th grade writing assignment ideas
- 6th grade writing assignment pdf
- 9th grade writing assignment worksheet
- 9th grade writing assignment classroom
- 10th grade writing assignment idea
- biol 101 individual assignment 1
- point to point essay example
- the point portal home point financial
- the point home point financial
- point to point comparison