Workers' Rights Violations in Bangladesh

4 million

people work in garment factories

Bangladesh’s garment industry makes up about 80% of the country’s total export revenue. Despite this, workers - of whom about 85% are women - have not seen major improvements in terms of quality of life or earnings. Many Bangladeshi workers are forced to work 14-16 hours a day, seven days a week.

Workers

View all sources

1,132

workers were killed in the April 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse

The Bangladeshi government has been urged to improve conditions for the country’s over four million garment workers, especially in light of the Rana Plaza factory building collapse in April, which killed over 1,100 workers. Since the incident, over 70 European companies have signed an international pact to improve conditions in Bangladesh’s clothing factories. Seventeen U.S. companies signed a separate accord, which has been criticized as falling far below the standards guaranteed under the pact signed by European companies.

View all sources

Child Labor in Bangladesh

Total: 13%
Male: 18%
Female: 8%

In the above noted cases, the numbers reflect the percentage of children - aged 5-14 - who are involved in child labor activities. The definition of child labor includes children aged 5-11 performing at least one hour of “economic activity” or at least 28 hours of domestic work. It also includes children aged 12-14 who did at least 14 hours of “economic activity” or at least 42 hours of domestic work. The numbers reflect UNICEF estimates from 2002-2011.

Child Labor

UNICEF: Bangladesh Statistics

View all sources

5,300

taka a month is the official minimum wage

In November, 2013, garment workers in Bangladesh secured a 77% minimum wage increase through strikes and negotiations. The subsequent raise was meant to bring the entry-level wages of garment workers to 5,300 taka a month ($68 USD), up from 3,000 taka ($40 USD). However, non-existent enforcement of the pay hike has left wages stagnant despite this legislation. Updated: February 24, 2014.

Wages

Reuters: Bangladesh approves wage hike for garment factory workers

View all sources

~30

unions registered in the garment sector in the first half of 2013

Earlier in 2013, Bangladesh’s government lifted a ban on registering unions in the garment sector. Despite this, many union leaders have faced discrimination, physical attacks, threats and firings.

Unions

View all sources

5,000+

factories in Bangladesh

Despite there being an estimated 5,000 garment factories across Bangladesh, the government has admitted it does not know where all of them are, leading to concerns about enforcing standards.

Conditions

View all sources

3rd

largest importer of garments to the U.S.

Bangladesh is third only to China and Vietnam in terms of exporting garments to the United States. Bangladesh also exports a large amount to Europe. Unfortunately, the country’s garment workers are among the hardest working people in the world, while facing severe exploitation and earning the world’s lowest minimum wage.

Exports

View all sources

CROWDVOICE

Tracking Voices Of Protest

Featured Voices

Current Voices

Archived Voices

Workers' Rights Violations in Bangladesh