From Repression to Reform? The Uncertain Path for Garment Workers’ Rights in Bangladesh.
The catastrophic collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh was meant to force binding accountability and transparency on global fashion brands. Yet years later, structural problems, legislative gaps, and modern slavery persist. With Bangladesh transitioning through a new Interim Government, garment workers stand at a critical crossroads between continued repression and genuine labor reform.
For most of the period since the Rana Plaza disaster, Bangladesh was governed by Sheikh Hasina, whose administration was widely criticised by human rights organisations and labour activists for a climate of repression in which trade unionists, labour organisers, and garment workers faced intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and criminal charges for protesting over unpaid wages and basic labour rights. The fall of Hasina’s government in August 2024, following student-led protests, and the establishment of an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus brought new hope for many in Bangladesh and abroad.
The election of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to government, is the latest political shift. A new labour law ha been passed that includes significant reforms that trade unions have been calling for. However, the reality on the factory floor remains tied to systemic failures. The reliance on voluntary social audits by global brands continues to shield them from accountability, failing to protect workers from forced labor. True change requires moving past corporate box-ticking and toward legally binding, worker-driven agreements and the unconditional right to form independent trade unions.
To read the complete, in-depth analysis of these legislative shifts and the collective fight for garment worker justice, click the link below. The full article was co-authored No Sweat’s Jay Kerr and Professor M. Azizul Islam from University of Aberdeen, providing a detailed look at how global brands must be held accountable.