94% RMG workers satisfied with jobs: Survey

The country’s 91.2 per cent of readymade garment (RMG) workers have received bonuses on time while 94.4 per cent are satisfied with their jobs, says a survey.

Besides, 80 per cent of the workers are satisfied with their salaries and 84.2 per cent feel safe in their workplaces, the survey conducted by the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) at the University of Dhaka said.

Based on the research, a book named “The Rana Plaza Experience: Ensuring Wellbeing and Transforming the RMG Industry” was unveiled at an event at the IBA building on Tuesday.

The researchers said the RMG industry has made commendable progress in the 10 years since the Rana Plaza disaster but more needs to be done to ensure a sustainable ecosystem in the industry.

The book is edited by Professor Mohammad A Momen, director of the IBA, and Dr Syed Ferhat Anwar, a professor at the institute.

The researchers surveyed 500 garment workers at different levels using stratified sampling technique from 100 factories.

The factories were selected from five major industrial zones – Dhaka, Mymensingh, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Chattogram. 180 workers were interviewed in Dhaka, 13 in Mymensingh, 108 in Narayanganj, 159 in Gazipur, and 40 in Chattogram.

Among the 500 workers, 335 were chosen from member factories of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Of the 500 respondents, 93 per cent said they want to work in the industry for at least five years. Around 95 per cent had a neutral to high satisfaction level regarding workplace facilities, such as sanitation, lunch hour and canteen, pure drinking water, and transportation.

Besides, 94 per cent had not faced any workplace injury. On average, 75 per cent received paid maternity and sick leaves while 69.4 per cent received fire drill training from their workplaces.

Professor Momen discussed the book at the event and presented the summary. The book contains the history of the RMG industry, the turmoil during the Rana Plaza accident, recovery, and the transformation of the industry afterwards.

Professor Ferhat highlighted the need for academic research and policy analysis to ensure the RMG industry’s transformation.

Md Atiqul Islam, mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation and former president of BGMEA, shared his experience of leading the RMG industry through a period of significant changes while Nurul Islam, general secretary of the United Federation of Garments Workers, highlighted the importance of workers’ rights and collective efforts in ensuring the wellbeing of apparel workers.

Faruque Hassan, president of BGMEA, highlighted the association’s role in transforming the RMG industry and ensuring the wellbeing of workers. Representatives from the media, labour unions, and the civil society were present in the ceremony.

A total of 27 in-depth interviews were conducted for the research. The book analysed the responses of various stakeholders, including buyers, foreign brands, journalists, labour unions, RMG workers, government agencies, the media, witnesses, photojournalists, and victims.

The IBA interviewed 36 injured victims who sustained up to 70 per cent injury as well as the families of two deceased victims. There were 26 females and 12 males. Among them, four did not reveal the amount of compensation they had received.

Other than them, all victims received an average compensation of Tk 2.64 lakh from the government, non-governmental organisations, factory owners, and other associations, which helped them get back to normal life as much as possible.

The victims shared their grief with the researchers and also mentioned that there was more that could have been done for them, adding the Rana Plaza incident was an expensive learning for the RMG industry.

The researchers said more attention has to be paid to ensure workers’ well-being as well as nutrition, health, education, and housing. Besides, public-private partnerships can play a big role in ensuring a social safety net for the working class.

The research was coordinated by Khaled Mahmud, associate professor at the IBA, and Fatematuz Zahra Saqui, lecturer at the institute. The book has been dedicated to all the lives lost during the Rana Plaza accident and those who were injured.