Occupational health of women garment workers in Dhaka city, Bangladesh | |
| Author | Khatun, Amena |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-97-01 |
| Subject(s) | Women employees--Bangladesh--Dhaka Industrial hygiene--Bangladesh--Dhaka |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | After the inception of free market economy in the 80's, Bangladesh appeared as one of the largest garment manufactured and finished goods exporters of the world. Garment industries mushroomed the country and introduced a very exploitative production relation. The first target of this production relation is poor, destitute and migrated women workforce. The present study aims to explore the occupational health of the women workforce in some selected garment factories of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. The study reveals that the Women in these garment industries work under unfavorable working conditions; low wage, overwork, exploitative and abusive treatment from the management; insecurity, uncertainty, unhealthy and unhygienic environment, least physical, mental and social safety and above all, without having minimum practice of internationally set labor standards and workers' rights. All these conditions have severe adverse effect on their health. Their occupation make them vulnerable to diseases and death. Their mental and physical health gradually become fragile and their reproductive health disordered and disturbed. Garment workers' occupational health affects not only their income-earning and marginal livelihood, but also affects their personal, familial, social and community life as well. The present study shows a vivid picture of women gaiment workers' physical, mental and reproductive health as affected by their occupation. The study explores that the health rights of women garment workers are violated in these factories. Occupational health problems arise from factory environment, working condition, division of labor, wage discrimination, patriarchal management system and complete control over production process and due to absence of GO-NGO insensitivity about women workers basic occupational rights. Women workers' views, needs and preferences, perception and attitudes have been given attention in this respect. Recommendations to solve occupational health problems are made in the light of workers' suggestions. |
| Year | 1998 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Kelkar, Govind |
| Examination Committee(s) | Earth, Barbara ;Dale, Reidar |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | The Government of the Netherlands |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1998 |