How are women workers in RMG sector?

Md Mahbub Alam Prodip and Fatema Ferdausi | Published: June 22, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

The ready-made garment (RMG) sector plays an important role in boosting the country's economy. This sector accounts for 78 per cent of the country's export receipts and contributes 17 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
More than 4.0 million people are working in the RMG sector, 80 per cent of whom are women. Women workers provide their labour in an exploitative environment such as fire risk, sexual harassment and physical and verbal abuse. Their salary and other facilities are low.
Gender composition has changed dramatically in the garment sector. Women and girls are employed in the woven sector while men toil in the knitwear sector. It is stereotypically assumed that women workers are less capable than male workers. As a result, the highest positions such as managers, supervisers and technicians are held by men while the lowest positions such as operators and helpers are held by women. Moreover, women also work in a more risky environment doing ironing, folding, cleaning and packing. This type of physical work is riskier for women as they suffer from eye and head pains, respiratory and gastric problems and urine infection. Although they are suffering from various health problems, they receive poor treatment facilities from the factory owners. Â
The status of the women workers is very low in terms of income, job security, accommodation, education, recreation, savings and bank accounts, and cultural and social aspects. Most of them live in unwholesome rented slums grappling with the shortages of pure drinking water, gas, electricity. These problems impact on women's health mostly.
The rural poor women are working in the garment sector for overall development of the country with their nimble fingers. However, they do not receive enough facilities to improve their living standard. They cannot fulfil their desire with the little amount of money they get, although the government has revised their wage structure and has fixed a minimum wage also. To improve their condition, experienced women workers should be placed in positions at the upper level. The management and policy planners of factories should change their stereotypical thinking towards gender. If women are promoted to better positions based on experience and skills, their vulnerability could be reduced gradually.
Md. Mahbub Alam Prodip is Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration, Rajshahi University. Email: prodip.mahbub@yahoo.com. Fatema Ferdausi is a Senior Gender Trainer, Gender Justice and Diversity, BRAC.
Â fatema_du1984@yahoo.com.