Digital illiteracy, English-only manuals and the absence of a nationally recognised skills- certification system are among the key barriers to reskilling garment workers amid rapid technological transformation, speakers at a dialogue said on Thursday.
Helper-level workers, those aged over 40, employees of smaller factories lacking resources for reskilling and transition support, and less educated workers are the most vulnerable to the ongoing changes, they observed.
The observations were made at a national dialogue titled "Ensuring a Just Transition in Bangladesh's RMG Sector: Public-Private Sector Initiatives and Workers' Realities", organised by Karmojibi Nari, a women-headed non-profit organisation, at a city hotel.
Presenting the keynote paper, Karmojibi Nari Project Coordinator Raju Ahmed said Bangladesh's RMG sector is undergoing a profound transformation driven by automation, digitalisation, environmental sustainability and changing global market demands.
While these changes offer opportunities to improve productivity and sustainability, they also pose significant risks to workers whose labour has been central to the industry's growth, he said.
Mr Ahmed identified digital illiteracy, language barriers stemming from English-language training manuals and the absence of nationally recognised skills certification that enables workers to demonstrate their competencies to employers as major
obstacles to reskilling.
He said technological, environmental and market-driven regulatory changes are reshaping the industry, with low-skilled, semi-skilled and helper-level workers bearing the brunt as repetitive tasks become automated and demand shifts towards technical roles.
As a result, many workers are facing higher production targets, heavier workloads and shrinking employment opportunities, forcing some into precarious jobs such as domestic work, street vending and home-based garment production.
He said a "just transition" policy is essential to balance industrial modernisation with social justice and ensure workers do not bear the costs of transformation alone.
The dialogue was moderated by Sanjida Sultana, additional executive director of Karmojibi Nari, while Nuzhat Jabin, partnership and strategy lead for the Asia Multi-Country Cluster (MCC) at Christian Aid Bangladesh, delivered the welcome address.
Garment workers Rina Sultana and Rupali Yeasmin said they had expected automation to make their jobs easier but instead faced heavier workloads, higher production targets and job losses.
They alleged that many workers were laid off after the age of 35 and urged policymakers to ensure that no female worker is left behind during the transition.
Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) Executive Director Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed questioned whether the country is prepared for a just transition, noting the contradiction between the expansion of green factories and frequent protests by workers over unpaid wages.
He called for a national just transition policy with the participation of all stakeholders and stressed that upskilling and reskilling should be integral to the roadmap.
Trade union representatives urged stronger worker participation, protection of workers' rights and livelihoods, and the establishment of a workers' welfare and rehabilitation fund.
Representatives of international brands said a fair transition requires shared responsibility among brands, manufacturers and other stakeholders, supported by dedicated budget allocations.
Factory representatives said automation has expanded in packaging and cutting operations, although sewing still depends heavily on human workers.
They added that factories alone cannot absorb displaced workers and called on the government to create alternative employment opportunities.
Development partners recommended creating a comprehensive database of male and female RMG workers and incorporating sector-specific support into the country's social safety net programmes.
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