"Labor Rights for Women in Readymade Garment Industries of Bangladesh: A Study

Abstract

Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) sector is nothing short of remarkable. It generates roughly US$39.35 billion in exports in 2025 and employs over five million people, with women making up 53 to 58 percent of that workforce1. But behind these impressive numbers lies a troubling reality. This thesis examines the gap between what the law promises women garment workers and what they actually experience on the factory floor. Drawing on data from the University of Nottingham's Rights Lab, GoodWeave International, SANEM, the ILO, and peer reviewed research covering 2018 to 2026, I find systematic violations across five critical areas: pay, working conditions, safety, maternity protection, and the right to organise. Women earn 22 to 60 percent less than men for comparable work2. Nearly one in four report frequent sexual harassment at work3. One third say their factories don't provide the maternity benefits they're legally entitled to. And workers who try to form unions face intimidation and dismissal. Fifty six percent of all workers have experienced threats or abuse at their current job; among those who reported abuse, 68 percent of adults and 90 percent of minors were women4. The law, on paper, is relatively progressive. The reality is something else entirely. Closing this gap will require more than legislative tweaks—it demands a fundamental shift in how labour rights are enforced, how corporations are held accountable, and how the industry governs itself.