The impact of climate change on the lives and livelihoods of readymade garment (RMG) workers: an exploratory study in selected readymade garment factories in Bangladesh

Mohammad Hayatun Nabi; Mehedi Hasan; Anika Tasneem Chowdhury; Farah Naz; Mosharop Hossian

doi:10.1186/s12889-023-17165-7

The impact of climate change on the lives and livelihoods of readymade garment (RMG) workers: an exploratory study in selected readymade garment factories in Bangladesh

BMC Public Health. 2023 Nov 20;23(1):2292. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-17165-7.

Authors

Mohammad Hayatun Nabi¹, Mehedi Hasan², Anika Tasneem Chowdhury³, Farah Naz⁴, Mosharop Hossian^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
² Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
³ Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. anika.chowdhury@icddrb.org.
⁴ Department of Physiology, Green Life Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
⁵ Public Health Promotion and Development Society (PPDS), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
⁶ School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.

Abstract

Background: There is a paucity of resources focusing on the climate change experience of readymade garment (RMG) workers in developing countries such as Bangladesh. Therefore, this mixed method approach aims to understand the distinctive types of climate change experiences from a health and occupational perspective, along with the consequences of these changes among RMG workers in Bangladesh.

Methods: The study was conducted from January 2022 and February 2022 where the quantitative data were collected from 200 RMG workers in 10 randomly selected garments and two focus group discussions took place with 20 conveniently selected RMG workers. The key informants were relevant stakeholders in the industry. Quantitative findings were reported using descriptive methods and qualitative findings were analysed using a content analysis approach.

Result: A total of 200 RMG workers were included in the study of which the majority belonged to the age group of 26-30 years (44%), were male (55%), worked in a compliant factory (70%), and were machine operators (79%). Half of the respondents experienced damage from natural disasters (51%), but only approximately 37% received humanitarian help. Migration and urbanisation were among the aftermath of the damage caused by e natural disasters, and 42% were forced to shift their homes due to natural disasters. Competition in the job market increased, and the owners had the opportunity to take on employees at a reduced salary. The respondents flagged climate change as a major contributor to their disease patterns. More than three-quarters of the respondents became sick because of increased heat while working; however, only half received any treatment.

Conclusion: Employee participation in hazard recognition, employer preparedness, prevention through design, research, surveillance, and upholding workplace ethics and standards can be the answers to climate change problems for readymade garment workers.

Keywords: Bangladesh; Climate Change; Climate Change Impact; Ready made Garment Industry.

MeSH terms

Adult
Bangladesh / epidemiology
Climate Change*
Clothing
Female
Humans
Industry
Male
Workplace*