The South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (Sanem) released a report on Sunday (January 1) that workers in the country’s ready-to-wear industry needed to meet basic needs such as food, housing and medical care. earn less than half of their normal income.
On average, workers earned Tk 9,984 per month in the April-June quarter of 2022, but the living wage (the amount needed to ensure a decent standard of living) varies from region to region. It ranged from Tk 19,200 to Tk 26,000. This means that there is a 51-60% gap between your actual income and your minimum income requirement.
“Workers are increasingly relying on overtime and overtime to fill this gap. [work hours that go beyond the legal limit]read the report titled Living Wages, Living Planet: September 2022 Update.
For example, a typical worker reported a median working time of 290 hours in June 2022, he adds.
Sanem has published this report as part of an ongoing research project on the quality of life of garment workers in Bangladesh, in collaboration with the US-based nonprofit Microfinance Opportunities.
Around 1,300 selected garment workers in Bangladesh’s five major industrial areas (Dhaka, Chattogram, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Sabar) have been surveyed weekly since April 2020 under a project called ‘Garment Workers’ Diaries’. It has been.
In the survey, Sanem asked workers to describe housing units in their area. Most of the respondents described the difficulty of living in close quarters, water, gas and electricity supply issues, and sharing common spaces and facilities with many households.
“We see a dense population, dirty kitchens and washrooms, lack of security, and limited electricity and gas supplies,” said a Dhaka-based RMG worker.
“The apartments located on the lower floors are of very poor quality and often have water rising from the floor,” added another Chatgram-based worker.
Sanem also asked us to imagine and describe a dwelling in which we would be happy to live. Most responses focused on access to basic services and utilities, having more space, and being able to use dishes and toilets without waiting in line.
“There are some trees and we need enough space to move around. We need a kitchen and attached bathrooms. Everything has to be neat and clean,” said a Narayanganj worker.
“A big house for a large family to live in together. Everyone has a separate room with a bathroom and access to utilities such as water, gas and electricity.” Another Savar worker added.
