All posts tagged: garmentmaking

Bangladesh’s garment-making industry is getting greener

Bangladesh’s garment-making industry is getting greener

Water reclaimed at the factory’s sewage treatment plant is used in the facility’s restrooms.ZAKIR HOSSAIN CHOWDHURY It’s a good start, but Bangladesh’s $40 billion garment industry still has a long way to go. The shift to environmentalism at the factory level hasn’t translated to improved outcomes for the sector’s 4.4 million workers.  Wage theft and delayed payments are widespread. The minimum wage, some 12,500 taka per month (about $113), is far below the $200 proposed by unions—which has meant frequent strikes and protests over pay, overtime, and job security. “Since Rana Plaza, building safety and factory conditions have improved, but the mindset remains unchanged,” says A.K.M. Ashraf Uddin, executive director of the Bangladesh Labour Foundation, a nonprofit labor rights group. “Profit still comes first, and workers’ freedom of speech is yet to be realized.” The smaller factories that dominate the garment sector may struggle to invest in green upgrades.ZAKIR HOSSAIN CHOWDHURY In the worst case, greener industry practices could actually exacerbate inequality. Smaller factories dominate the sector, and they struggle to afford upgrades. But without …