Hurdles for female RMG workers’ career prospects, say experts

During a roundtable discussion, experts and labour rights campaigners discussed the declining career opportunities for women workers in Bangladesh’s textile sector. Building a Sustainable Future for Women in the Ready-made Garment Sector,” the event’s title, was organised in Dhaka by USAID’s Women Thrive in Bangladesh initiatives.

Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, exposed a concerning trend: the percentage of women employed in the ready-made garment (RMG) industry has fallen from 80% in 1994 to less than 55% of the workforce. Numerous interconnected issues, including as traditional gender norms, the weight of unpaid caregiving, a lack of gender-friendly workplaces, and the frequency of harassment and violence in the workplace, are mostly to blame for this fall.

Moazzem outlined certain workplace-related problems that have led to the decline in the proportion of female employees, including low pay, pregnancy-related difficulties, excessive workloads, and insufficient childcare support. Along with the influence of automation, which has changed the labour scene, he also highlighted the importance of skill and educational differences between male and female workers.

Notably, women have experienced varied results from the increasing use of automated machines in different manufacturing phases. Their involvement has grown in sectors like finishing, packaging, and printing, but it has decreased in tasks involving cutting and sewing. Nonetheless, a large number of employees lack automation-related training, highlighting the urgent need for focused training programs.

The paper made the point that internal workplace problems greatly outweigh external ones, and that internal dynamics are essential to keeping female employees. In addition to impeding women’s economic empowerment and general well-being, the study found that the reduction in female involvement presents difficulties for international companies doing business in Bangladesh as well as the government’s development strategy.

Moazzem clarified the startlingly high incidence of workplace harassment, pointing out that line managers and supervisors frequently intimidate staff members, insult them, and threaten to use physical force. In order to lessen harassment and violence, he advocated for the introduction of specialised training aimed at management.

The report suggested that governments, corporations, and international brands incorporate social protections and women’s rights into the National Employment Policy, the National Social Security Strategy, and the Women Development Policy. In addition to recommending that international organisations offer financial and technical support for programs targeted at keeping women in RMG manufacturers, discussants underlined the need of brands working with factories to set retention targets for female workers.

Ramesh Singh, regional director of CARE Asia, presided over the event, which was attended by prominent individuals such as Mohammed Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bushra Binte Baten, corporate responsibility manager for PVH Corp, and Blair King, deputy director of USAID.