Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garments (RMG) Industry: Exploring Workplace Well-Being Issues in Policy and Practice

Rahima Akter (), Julian Teicher and Quamrul Alam
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Rahima Akter: College of Business, School of Business and Law, Central Queensland University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Julian Teicher: College of Business, School of Business and Law, Central Queensland University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Quamrul Alam: College of Business, School of Business and Law, Central Queensland University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-23

Abstract: Gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the workplace are major issues that affect the work environment and employee well-being. These issues have received little attention from managers in the ready-made garments (RMG) factories or policymakers more generally in Bangladesh, despite the comprehensive approach to restructuring the industry following two devastating industrial accidents. This research examines the role played by RMG factory managers in eliminating gender-based violence and increasing positive work experiences and well-being in the workplace, and the policy initiatives from the government with the aim to stop workplace violence. The study uses qualitative methods—document analysis and semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that measures to protect workers from GBVH are absent in employment regulation. Though there are high court directives on workplace harassment, these have not been implemented effectively. The findings show that women workers have faced longstanding GBVH, which has impacted their well-being. The increasing rate of women leaving RMG sector jobs reflects how women workers’ well-being issues have been disregarded within the factories.

Keywords: gender-based violence; sexual harassment; the Bangladesh RMG industry; workplace well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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