The Readymade garment (RMG)

There is no denying the fact that without women empowerment development goals of Bangladesh is always unreachable. This country belongs to a social system where women consider as a burden for the family. However, the scenario is changing with time. Nowadays, women are working in garments sector, education sector, banking sector, different NGO's and government organizations but the single garment sector where seventy percent of workers of 4.0 million are women and most of them are less educated, unskilled and from rural areas. These women have neither decision making power and nor access to resources before getting the job in the garments sector. The job creates ample opportunity for female workers by giving economic freedom, keeping them near the resources and facilities in the city area, and making them knowledgeable, and skills through training, counseling, and sharing problem with coworkers. The study reveals that empowerment of women vastly depends on four variables which are women's financial contribution to family, women's access to resources, women's participation in household decision making and their perception of coping capacity to shocks. It has been found that garments sector significantly contribute to enhance the female worker's ability to contribute financially, to participate in decision making, to access resources, and to cope with risks which ultimately increase their empowerment in the society as a whole.

PurposeThe survival and growth of the ready-made garments (RMGs) sectors in Bangladesh depend on sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP). The purpose of this study is to analyse the effects of Internet of Things (IoT), supply chain collaboration and ethical sensitivity on SSCP. Also, supply chain dynamism was tested as a moderator.Design/methodology/approachThe framework of this study has been developed to enrich the understanding of technology usage in the supply chain. In developing the framework, previous studies in the supply chain context were considered. The model was tested by using data collected from 290 executives that were employed by different RMG companies in Bangladesh. This study used a 29-item structured questionnaire measured on a 6-point Likert scale to collect the data. Covariance-based structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilised to test the data.FindingsThe results showed that there were statistically significant and positive relationships between IoT and supply chain collaboration, social performance, economic performance and environmental performance. Ethical sensitivity also influenced social and economic performance. Supply chain collaboration was found to be related to social, economic and environmental performance. However, no link was found between ethical sensitivity and environmental performance. The result also showed that supply chain dynamism acted as a moderator.Research limitations/implicationsBy considering theories and interpreting the results, this study provides some theoretical and practical implications which will enhance the SSCP. The results can also facilitate strategic planning by companies.Originality/valueThis research has identified and analysed the effect of IoT on SSCP in the RMGs industry in Bangladesh where this industry serves as the main economic contributor.

Purpose:The purpose of this study is to investigate the current state of women RMG workers' occupational health and safety, reproductive health, working environment and domestic violence and their possible effects on productivity. Methodology: A cross sectional study has been conducted with structured questionnaire to collect data from 493 female garments workers of 44 readymade garments factories of Bangladesh. The collected data tested by using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) techniques with SMART PLS-4.0. Findings: The study result shows that occupational health, occupational safety, reproductive health, working environment and domestic violence have moderate effects on worker's productivity and only occupational health and reproductive health have positive significant effects on worker's productivity. However, occupational safety, working environment and domestic violence have no significant impacts on workers productivity. Practical Implications: To increase productivity, create a comfortable working space with the lighting, ventilation, safety gear, and hazard prevention measures and promote a positive attitude among management-level employees and also establish a counseling center for the female employees to ensure good reproductive health. Originality/Value: Literature shows that no previous study considered the combined effects of domestic violence, reproductive health, work environment, occupational safety, and domestic violence on worker's productivity. The Maslow hierarchy of needs theory served as the inspiration for this investigation. In light of this, this study investigates the main working environmental factors generating low productivity in Bangladesh's RMG industries.Limitations: This study is based on quantitative data analysis. In future qualitative research may be conducted for in depth study.