Impact of RMG Sector on Standard of Living of Garment Workers in Bangladesh: Determinants and Workers’ Perception

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the impact of RMG sector on standard of living of garment workers of Bangladesh and to discover the impact of RMG sector employees’ income, expenditure, savings, transportation, health, sanitation, child education after joining RMG sector. In this study questionnaire survey was conducted on 200 garments workers randomly from Mymensingh and Gazipur. The questionnaire related with workers family condition like age, educational level, experience, income, expenses, savings, transportation facilities, health, child education, sanitation and housing. Data were collected by using attitudinal scales viz. Likert scale. To examine impact between two categorical variables (dependent and independent) by using a non-parametric test i.e. chi-square test with the help of SPSS software. Findings of the study showed that the significant positive impact on income, expenditure, savings, child education, transportation, impact health, sanitation and housing. The problems of accommodation, transportation facilities, job insecurity, increasing family expenditure, lack of and savings appeared to be more prevalent among the workers. The remarkable problem revealed the female workers are physically harassed by their male colleagues or superiors. The study suggested some points which help to improve the workers’ standard of living with payments of workers’ wages in regular basis on right time and  right scale, child care with schooling system be introduced, regularly medical and medicine to be provided, improving the transportation service and ensure proper work environment.  It has been found that in spite of variety of problems, through employment generation in RMG sector, the garments workers are contributing in society that lead the growth of Bangladeshi economy.

Keywords: RMG sector, Standard of Living, Garment workers