Strengthening Garment Workers’ Rights in Bangladesh

Since the 1980s, Bangladesh’s readymade garments (RMG) industry has become the most significant catalyst for the country’s economic development, now generating more than 80 percent of the country’s export income and employing more than four million, a majority of whom are women, in more than 4,000 garment factories. Unfortunately, lack of understanding about labor rights and awareness about legal aid support have left many RMG workers vulnerable to mistreatment and unfavorable working conditions and at risk of being unemployed. The Asia Foundation has partnered with the Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Trust (BLAST) to build awareness among RMG workers about their rights, how to access legal aid, and workplace conflict resolution methods.