Ripped at the seams: Ready-made garment sector workers in a global pandemic

The ready-made garment (RMG) industry employs millions of workers in India and Bangladesh. Garment workers are vulnerable to forced labor due to high rates of poverty, the fragmented and informal nature of textile supply chains, and lack of enforcement of legal protections for workers.

Though the apparel sector has long come under criticism for poor working conditions, sexual harassment, forced labor, and workplace health and safety issues, the COVID-19 pandemic further exposed major, existing flaws in the global garment supply chain.

This policy brief presents findings from a rapid assessment conducted to assess the multi-faceted impacts of COVID-19 on RMG sector workers in India and Bangladesh. The research has an emphasis on the increased risk of forced labor among vulnerable working populations.

Key Findings

1. COVID-19 is exposing the power imbalance between buyers and suppliers

2. RMG workers, particularly women, migrants, and informal workers are especially vulnerable

3. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen an increase in the risk of forced labor

For more details and to see recommendations for action, download the full briefing:

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