Retail employees in Bangladesh work 11hr shifts: Survey

Retail employees in Bangladesh work for an average of 11 hours a day in a single shift, according to the findings of a baseline survey by BRAC.

Although most of them can avail of annual leaves, they are not usually granted maternity or paternity leaves.

Only half of the workplaces have policies to protect their employees from sexual harassment. 

Retailers in Bangladesh are reluctant to hire female employees and persons with disabilities because of safety and security issues and the perception towards women that they have limited capacity to endure physical strain.

Only 2 per cent of the retailers are willing to hire persons with disabilities.

The findings of the survey were unveiled at a webinar titled “The future of skills and employment in the retail sector”, organised by BRAC’s Skills Development Programme (SDP) on Tuesday.

The survey also reveals existing skill gaps of the salespersons engaged in the sector.

Of the employers, 68 per cent said their salespersons were unable to meet the sales targets set for them by the management; 54 per cent stated their salespersons lacked communication skills; and 64.6 per cent had mentioned that their sales staff’s knowledge of the products was inadequate.

Around 93 per cent of workplaces are equipped with safety equipment in Sylhet, 82 per cent in Chattogram, 72 per cent in Dhaka, and 56 per cent in Khulna.

Moreover, 98 per cent of the retailers in Chattogram, 92 per cent retailers in Dhaka, 89 per cent retailers in Khulna and 56 per cent retailers in Sylhet have made arrangements so that their sales staff get enough light, air and safe drinking water.

The survey, conducted under SDP’s “Progressing the retail sector by improving decent employment (PRIDE)” project, interviewed 720 respondents from the retail sector employers and employees based in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna and Sylhet.

Funded by IKEA Foundation and UBS Optimus, the project in partnership with the retail sector and Bangladesh government will create a model to provide sustainable livelihoods to low-income urban youths.