Socio-Economic and Health Challenges Among Female Garment Workers: An Investigation of the Kanchpur Region in Narayanganj
Md. Touhiduzzaman, Jamsedur Rahman
Abstract
This research examines the multifaceted challenges confronting female garment workers in the Kanchpur area of Narayanganj, Bangladesh, encompassing both social and economic dimensions. Drawing from a survey involving 180 female workers across three garment industrial units, the study unveils the adverse living conditions these individuals endure, ensnared in a cycle of impoverishment. Through a comprehensive exploration, the paper workplace hardships, job contentment, societal constraints, and health apprehensions experienced by these workers. It further elucidates the influence of demanding workloads on familial life and delves into the maternal health predicaments encountered. Given the substantial contribution of the Ready Made Garment (RMG) sector to Bangladesh's economy, this inquiry enriches comprehension of the predicaments faced by female workers and offers prospects for ameliorating their labor and living conditions. The outcomes accentuate the urgency for extensive reforms aimed at augmenting the well-being and agency of female garment workers in Kanchpur and beyond, fostering a more equitable and supportive environment.