Final Paper - Bangladesh working conditions PDF

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Final Paper - Bangladesh working conditions...

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Tietjen 1 Jessica Tietjen Mr. Hernandez English 150 November 18, 2013

Bangladesh borders the countries India and Burma. Bengali East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan, which resulted in the existence of Bangladesh in 1971. The population is over 161,083,804 billion people whose life expectancies are 62.08 years of age. Water – borne diseases are prevalent because of the polluted water. Bangladesh uses garments, and apparels for manufacturing which is one of the labor intensive sectors that provide abundant labor. The global market creates employment opportunities. Multi-fiber arrangements (MFA) was the reason for the rise of the apparel industry in Bangladesh. According to the article “An Analysis of the Change and Volatility in the Apparel Industry of Bangladesh After: MFA Era.”, Redwan Ahmed states, “The rise of the apparel industry in Bangladesh to today’s state was mainly due to the MFA (Multi Fiber Arrangements) quotas, which came into force during the period between 1974 and 2004.” By December 31, 2004, MFA was phased out die to the Uruguay Round negotiations. Employment declined from 19.9 million workers to 13.5 million in the year 2000. Employment fell due to plant closures, and due to post MFA export trends, which consisted of falling export orders ,working conditions were affected resulting in insufficient labor conditions. In the year 2012, a fire took the lives of 112 workers at the Tazreen Fashion Factory in Bangladesh. Trapped workers, locked windows ,and gates prevented the workers from getting to safety. According to the article “Bangladesh’s Triangle Shirtwaist”; the author, James M. Borneman states that “Bangladesh is the number – two ready – made garment producer in

Tietjen 2 the world second only to china and chasing hard for the number one spot.” Factory workers are making 18 cents an hour, which is keeping the prices of garments low, allowing the retailers to recognize that situations resulting in a fire like this could occur. Needed safety for employees working in the garment industry is necessary in Bangladesh. Multinational companies have moral obligation to improve, and maintain proper working conditions in countries like Bangladesh. The safety of the employees who manufacture their products, and clothing should be strictly enforced. According to the article “Bangladesh Is Worker Safety Falling In The Global Supply Chain.”, by Sandy Smith, “We expect firm Commitments from out suppliers to meet strict safety standards… and to put the welfare of employees first.” – Walmart. In the past years more than 20 billion worth of goods were exported from Bangladesh. This is an increase of 12 percent from last year. In depth inspections in Bangladesh will be done by Walmart to insure that building safety, and fire safety conditions are implemented. The Company Gap is a member of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, and has implemented a Fire Safety Plan for over 70 Bangladesh facilities. The Bangladesh government, factory workers, the labor society, retailers ,and apparel companies share the responsibility of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety Association. They are committed to inspecting their factories to insure proper working conditions. According to the article “Tragedy in Bangladesh”; The author Les Mandelbaum States that “Most of theses Factories are chosen by unscrupulous middlemen agents and either inspected by themselves or third – party inspectors who mostly “sell” their seals of approval.” Production of products should seize if the conditions are not up to safety standards. The manufacturing of the products should be the end result, but only if the safety conditions are

Tietjen 3 met. Mandelbaum blames not only the factory owners, but the importers. Responsibility lies on the shoulders of both. Boycotting production ,and shutting down the factory completely would only result in the unemployment of the workers who are only receiving 18 cents an hour. Inspections, and surprise visits are the only way to insure proper conditions. This happens, and approval of factory conditions occur, however if true safety conditions are met is very debatable. Pulling production until safety standards are met does not occur. Bangladesh is the largest employer of women in the manufacturing business. It is described as an exploitative sweatshop. The author, Fauzia Erfan Ahmed of the article, “The Rise of the Bangladesh Garment Industry: Globalization, Women Workers, and Voice,” states, “A major source of foreign exchange, the garment sector grew at compound rare of 125 percent from 1977 to 1991 (Wahid and Weiss 1996, 167) and the garment industry provided jobs for women.” Gendered wage segregation occurs. Women have no desire to progress to a higher paying position since they would be sexually harassed. They have no union, and no say in matters in the factory. Women work in the garment factories for economic needs. Women from poor families have employment opportunities due to factory work, and it is better working conditions working as a prostitute. Society views a factory worker as a respectable job for women from a higher class in society; their wages are used for the household in hopes to up the latter in society. Are these women better off as garment workers? This is a question which the author addresses, since women’s rights have become worse due to working in a sweatshop. No voices are heard by the women, and because of class boundaries they have a desire to maintain a higher class of living. Many cannot go back to the families they had. The International Labor Organization (ILO) was a part in resolving working, and wage conditions for workers in Bangladesh. Organizations like this one is an advocate of the

Tietjen 4 employees, and is the beginning point to improve conditions for Bangladesh employees in factories.

Work Cited

Ahmed, Fauzia Erfan. "The Rise Of The Bangladesh Garment Industry: Globalization,

Tietjen 5 Women Workers, And Voice." NWSA Journal 16.2 (2004): 34-45. Academic Search Complete. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.

Borneman, James M. "Bangladesh's Triangle Shirtwaist." Textile World 162.6 (2012): 10. Business Source Complete. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.

MANDELBAUM, LES. "Tragedy In Bangladesh." Gifts & Decorative Accessories 114.5 (2013): 40. Business Source Complete. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.

Redwan, Ahmed. "An Analysis Of The Change And Volatility In The Apparel Industry Of Bangladesh After MFA Era." Journal Of Textile & Apparel Technology & Management (JTATM) 8.1 (2013): 1-11. World Textiles. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.

Smith, Sandy. "Bangladesh: Is Worker Safety Failing In The Global Supply Chain?." EHS Today 6.10 (2013): 21-22. OmniFile Full Text Mega (H.W. Wilson). Web. 2 Dec. 2013....