State of Compliance of Bangladesh's Readymade Garment Industry during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pathway to Future Challenges

Abstract

The readymade garment (RMG) industry is the backbone of Bangladesh's economy, accounting for over 80% of the country's export earnings, which employs over 4 million workers. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the industry's operations due to supply chain disturbances, reduced consumer demand, and factory closures. This study aims to investigate the state of compliance of the Bangladesh RMG industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on encountering future challenges. This study surveyed 100 RMG workers to evaluate the 36 compliance issues the government of Bangladesh has already termed as the most important for the industry. The study used a combination of primary and secondary data sources. The study showed that occupational health and safety issues during the COVID-19 pandemic were fantastic, where some issues, including working hours, payment of wages, and conditions of service, were identified as significant non-compliant issues that required further improvement. The findings of this research will provide insights into the challenges and opportunities for the Bangladesh RMG industry in the post-pandemic era and provide some policy guidelines as a pathway to face upcoming challenges.