Automation Causes 31 Percent Decline in Bangladesh's Garment Industry Workforce

... Joint research from the Bangladesh Labor Foundation (BLF), BRAC University and Solidaridad Network Asia shows that automation has started to slash garment worker jobs in Bangladesh's factories. 

The organizations said automation caused a 31 percent decline in Bangladesh's total ready-made garment (RMG) sector workforce. The majority of those workers, the organizations said, were helpers. Helpers typically take on tasks requiring lower skill levels in factories. 

The BLF said automation could continue to place negative pressure on jobs in the RMG sector. 

"While automation has boosted economic growth and productivity in the sector, it has simultaneously created significant challenges for RMG workers-especially women, older employees, less literate individuals and those lacking skills or confidence," the organization wrote in a Facebook post. 

BLF highlighted that the study's findings only exacerbate the "urgent need" to work on what it calls "Just Transition" issues. Through that program, the BLF works to help guide workers vulnerable to climate change, automation, economic inequality and other social issues through an economic transition. 

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