Child labour is present in ready-made garment (RMG) export supply chains in Bangladesh, especially via subcontracted factories, with the minors being illegally employed as child labourers, says a new report that also provides concrete recommendations to industry stakeholders to advance worker and child protection in the sector.
THE REPORT by the University of Nottingham’s Rights Lab and GoodWeave International — Modern slavery and child labor in Bangladesh’s garment sector: documenting risks and informing solutions — highlights the risk of modern slavery and child labour in Bangladesh's garment supply chains as it revealed exploitative workplace practices, hazardous work for young workers, and low wages at exporter and subcontracted worksites, among other risks.
- The research was undertaken through the Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham as a part of the project “Addressing Modern Slavery in the Bangladesh Ready-made Garment Sector: Closing the evidence gap and informing solutions” led by GoodWeave International.
- This project is funded by UK International Development from the UK government.
KEY FINDINGS: The report, among other things, revealed the following:
- Child labour is present in RMG export supply chains in Bangladesh, especially via subcontracted factories. 100% of the minors interviewed were illegally employed as child labourers in RMG factories.
- Thirty-two per cent of adult RMG workers surveyed are being paid below minimum wage, and 7% of respondents’ income leaves them living below the international poverty line.
- Almost a third of factory-based workers report working more than ten hours per day, six days per week, which exceeds the maximum limit for regular and overtime hours set by international and Bangladeshi law and is an indicator of forced labour.
- While more women work in the RMG sector, they earn on average 2,000 BDT (18 USD) less per month than their male counterparts.
- Due to lack of oversight from the government and private sector actors, risks of various kinds— from child labour to underpayments, safety concerns, and abuse—were more common in subcontracted factories linked to export than in those with direct links to international buyers.
- Fifty-six per cent of factory workers surveyed have experienced threats or abuse at their current job—68% of adult workers and 90% of minors who reported abuse were female.
- Home-based work is precarious, but workers surveyed feel safer from abuse when they work at home and appreciate flexible work hours.
