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Do Labour Welfare Policies Matter for Workers? Evidence from the Garment Supply Chain Industry in Bangladesh

Author

Listed:
  • Robayet Ferdous Syed

    (Monash University)

  • Kazi Tanvir Mahmud

    (Southeast University)

  • Ridoan Karim

    (Monash University)

Abstract

The paper focusses on workers’ opinions in regard to welfare policies enacted under the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006. The study investigates two questions: Do labour welfare policies under labour law really matter for workers? If so, to what extent are such welfare policies practised in the global garment supply chain industry in Bangladesh? The Binary Logistic Regression technique has been used to assess the opinions of garment workers as to whether their level of satisfaction increases by workers’ welfare facility interventions. The data were collected from compliant and export-oriented factories between July 2021 and August 2021 in three Upazilas-Savar Ashulia (Dhaka District) and Gazipur Sadar (Gazipur District) in Bangladesh. This study demonstrates that overtime facilities, medical facilities, safety measures, restroom facilities, lunchroom facilities, and childcare facilities can play a pivotal role in increasing the satisfaction level of the workers. Given the similar socio-economic and geographical backgrounds, this research can be applied to the garment manufacturing industries of other South Asian countries. It serves as a valuable tool for understanding workers' attitudes and beliefs about welfare provisions. By applying the findings of this study, one can better comprehend the needs of the workers in terms of various labor welfare motivational tools.

Suggested Citation

  • Robayet Ferdous Syed & Kazi Tanvir Mahmud & Ridoan Karim, 2024. "Do Labour Welfare Policies Matter for Workers? Evidence from the Garment Supply Chain Industry in Bangladesh," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 67(1), pages 237-253, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ijlaec:v:67:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s41027-024-00484-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s41027-024-00484-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nusrat, Mansura & Solaiman, Mohammad, 2016. "A Study of Employee Welfare Leading to Corporate Sustainability in Garments Industries of Bangladesh," Asian Business Review, Asian Business Consortium, vol. 6(1), pages 7-14.
    2. Robayet Ferdous Syed & Kazi Tanvir Mahmud, 2022. "Factors influencing work-satisfaction of global garments supply chain workers in Bangladesh," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 69(4), pages 507-524, December.
    3. Sergiy D. Dmytriyev & R. Edward Freeman & Jacob Hörisch, 2021. "The Relationship between Stakeholder Theory and Corporate Social Responsibility: Differences, Similarities, and Implications for Social Issues in Management," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(6), pages 1441-1470, September.
    4. Mark Anner, 2020. "Squeezing workers’ rights in global supply chains: purchasing practices in the Bangladesh garment export sector in comparative perspective," Review of International Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(2), pages 320-347, March.
    5. Humayun Kabir & Myfanwy Maple & Md Shahidul Islam & Kim Usher, 2021. "Prevalence of Suicide Thoughts and Behaviours among Female Garment Workers Who Survived the Rana Plaza Collapse: An In-Depth Inquiry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Tobias Wolf & Maria Metzing & Richard E. Lucas, 2022. "Experienced Well-Being and Labor Market Status: The Role of Pleasure and Meaning," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 163(2), pages 691-721, September.
    7. Dina M. Siddiqi, 2020. "Logics of Sedition: Re-signifying Insurgent Labour in Bangladesh’s Garment Factories," Journal of South Asian Development, , vol. 15(3), pages 371-397, December.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Labour policies; Labour welfare; Labour satisfaction; Garments-manufacturing industry; Bangladesh;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L6 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing
    • J83 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Workers' Rights
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions
    • K23 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Regulated Industries and Administrative Law

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