Health issues of female garment workers: Evidence from Bangladesh

Abstract

Readymade garment industry is the most crucial export earning industry in Bangladesh. Currently, around 4.5 million workers, of whom 80% are female, are working in the industry. Due to the poor working environment and arduous nature of the job, women workers in the industry are vulnerable to diverse physical and psychological health hazards. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 360 female workers of the garment industry in Dhaka to examine their health issues. The study found respectively 88%, 75% and 55% participants were suffering from headache, hand pain and respiratory complications due to the nature of their work, working posture and dust and chemicals, while 69% participants reported experiencing depression. The causes identified for physical health hazards were uncomfortable sitting positions (79%) and noise (75%), while fear of accidents (75%) was found to be the main reason for psychological troubles.