The Political Economy of Industrial Accidents in Readymade Garments Factory in Bangladesh

198 Pages·2014·5.62 MB·English

The Political Economy of Industrial Accidents in Readymade
Garments Factory in Bangladesh: A Case Study of Rana Plaza
Tragedy

MSS, 2nd Semester
Exam Roll No: 4456
Registration No: Ha-4667
Session: 2011-2012

Department of Sociology
University of Dhaka

January 2014
The Political Economy of Industrial Accidents in Readymade
Garments Factory in Bangladesh: A Case Study of Rana Plaza
Tragedy

MSS, 2nd Semester
Exam Roll No: 4456
Registration No: Ha-4667
Session: 2011-2012

The present Advanced Research Thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Master of Social Sciences (MSS) in Sociology

Department of Sociology
University of Dhaka

January 2014
Contents
List of Tables iv
List of Figures v
List of Illustrations vi
Abbreviations vii
Acknowledgements viii

Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Background 01
1.2 Statement of the Problem 03
1.3 Objective of the Study 05
1.4 Conceptualization 06
1.5 Scope of the Study 07
1.6 Methodology of the Study 08
1.7 Limitations of the Study 10

Chapter Two: Literature Review
2.1 Introduction 12
2.2 Review of the Literature 12
2.3 Conclusion 20

Chapter Three: Theoretical Framework
3.1 Introduction 21
3.2 Major Theoretical Perspectives on Political Economy 21
3.3 Marxist Perspective of Political Economy 23
3.4 Feminist Perspective: Super-exploitation of Female Labour 35
3.5 Theoretical Framework of this Study 37
3.6 Conclusion 42

I
Chapter Four: Readymade Garment (RMG) Sector in Bangladesh
4.1 Introduction 43
4.2 History of Growth of RMG Sector in Bangladesh 44
4.3 Factors Promoting the Growth of RMG Industry 55
4.4 Contributions of RMG Industry to National Economy 61
4.5 Conclusion 64

Chapter Five: Industrial Accident in RMG Sector in Bangladesh
5.1 Introduction 65
5.2 Industrial Accidents in the Readymade Garment Sector 66
5.3 The Reasons behind all of the Accidents 72
5.4 Initiatives taken by Respective Authorities 72
5.5 Conclusion 73

Chapter Six: Rana Plaza Accident
6.1 Introduction 74
6.2 The Rana Plaza Accident 74
6.3 Aftermath of the Accident 91
6.4 Conclusion 106

Chapter Seven: Case study
7.1 Introduction 108
7.2 Socio-economic Profile of the Victims of Rana Plaza Accident 109
7.3 Case study 117

Chapter Eight: Local and Global Response to the Rana Plaza Accident
8.1 Introduction 140
8.2 Compensation for the Victims 140
8.3 Safety Measures: Building and Fire Safety 147
8.4 Legal Measures after the Accident 149
8.5 Conclusion 156

II
Chapter Nine:the Rana Plaza Accident in Retrospect: Local, Global and
Gender Dimensions
9.1 Introduction 157
9.2 Global Context: Flexible Accumulation 158
9.3 Local Context: Peripheral State 163
9.4 Gender context: Super-exploitation of Female Labour 176

Chapter Ten: Conclusion 180
References 182
Appendix 188

III
List of Tables

Table 3.1 Major Perspectives in Political Economy
Table 4.1 No. of textile mills in East and West Pakistan between 1947 and 1971
Table 4.2 Growth of RMG Unit and Employment
Table 4.3 Some Important phases of the Bangladesh RMG Industry
Table 4.4 Comparative Statement on Export of RMG and Total Export of Bangladesh
Table 4.5 Country-wise per hour Wage of Garment Workers
Table 4.6 Export by Product
Table 4.7 Top Global Retailers and Fashion Brands in Bangladesh
Table 4.8 Garments manufacturing labor costs (US$/hour) by Countries
Table 4.9 Clothing Exports of Asian Countries (US$ Million)
Table 5.1 Major Incidents in RMG Sector During 1990 to 2013
Table 6.1 Factories at the Rana Plaza
Table 6.2 Victims of the Rana Plaza Accident
Table 7.1 Gender Distribution of the Victims
Table 7.2 Age Distribution of the Victims
Table 7.3 Educational Status of the Victims
Table 7.4 Marital Status of the Victims
Table 7.5 Time of Migration
Table 7.6 Position of the worker
Table 7.7 Working Hour of the Rana Plaza workers
Table 7.8 Overtime Working hours of the Rana Plaza Factory Workers
Table 7.9 Monthly Salaries of the Victims
Table 7.10 Problems Faced by the Female Worker in the Factory
Table 7.11 Types of Injury
Table7.12 Compensation
Table 8.1 Comparison of two Labour laws, 2006 and 2013
Table 8.2 New Monthly Wage for Garment Workers

IV
List of Figures
Figure 1.1 Methodological Framework of the study
Figure 3.1 Theoretical Framework for Marxist Political Economy
Figure 3.2 Wallerstein’s World System Model
Figure 3.3 Labour market structure under conditions of flexible accumulation.
Figure 3.4 Theoretical Framework of this Study
Figure 3.5 Global Ready-made Garment (RMG) Production Chain
Figure 4.1 Major Products Export from Bangladesh
Figure 4.2 Market of Bangladeshi Ready-made Garment Product
Figure 4.3 Total and RMG Export by Year
Figure 4.4 Retailers target about top sourcing
Figure 4.5 Capacity of Southeast Asian RMG suppliers
Figure 4.6 Contribution of RMG to Total Export

Figure 4.7 Employment in Readymade Garment Industry
Figure 4.8 Growth of the Readymade Garment Industry
Figure 6.1 Graphical Image of the Rana Plaza
Figure 6.2 Number of Workers Worked in the Garments of the Rana Plaza
Figure 6.3 Division-wise Distribution of the 834 Dead Workers
Figure 6.4 Nature of family of the 834 dead workers
Figure 6.5 Distribution of the 332 Missing Workers
Figure 6.6 Severely injured workers
Figure 7.1 District-wise distribution of the victims
Figure 8.1 Minimum Monthly Wage of Garments Worker in Asia
Figure 8.2 Distribution of New Monthly Wage in RMG Sector
Figure 8.3 Rise of Minimum Wage for Garment Workers

V
List of Illustrations
Illustration 3.1 Manufacturing cost of a Polo Shirt
Illustration 4.1 Chief Purchasing Officers Plan to Shift from China to other Countries Over
Next Five Years
Illustration 9.1 Comparison of Manufacturing Cost between Bangladesh and USA

VI
Abbreviations

ADB Asian Development Bank
ATC Agreement on Textile and Clothing
BBS Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
BGMEA Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association
BILS Bangladesh lnstitute of Labour Studies
BNBC Bangladesh National Building Code
CPD Centre for Policy Dialogue
CRP Centre for the Rehabilitation and the Paralyzed
EPB Export Promotion Bureau
FDI Foreign Direct Investment
GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GITI Garments Industries Transparency Initiative
GSP General System of Preferences
ILO International Labour Organisation
IMF International Monetary Fund
LDC Less Developed Countries
MFA Multi-Fibre Arrangement
MNC Multinational Corporations
NAP National Action Plan
NGO Non-Government Organization
OSHE Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation
Rajuk Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha
RMG Readymade Garment
SAFTA South Asian Free Trade Area
SCF Social Compliance Forum
TCC Tripartite Consultative Committee
TIB Transparency International Bangladesh
TNCs Transnational Corporations
VII
Acknowledgements

Pursuing a thesis is both painstaking and enjoyable experience. At the same time it was a
learning experience too. There are a few persons I would like to thank, without their help and
guidance I would not have been able to complete my thesis properly. First of all, I would like
to express my deep and sincere gratitude to my honorable supervisor for accepting me as one
of his thesis students. His wide knowledge and logical way of thinking have been a great
value to me. His thoughtful inspiration and personal guidance have provided a good basis for
the present thesis paper. In acknowledge highly my indebtedness to my teacher for his
cooperation, guidance, and advice. When I was in trouble he sincerely and cordially helped
me to understand. Without his cooperation and wise guidance this thesis would not have seen
the light of day.

I also thank all my respondents who willingly participated in this research and helped me to
get my data even though they were severely injured and very much sick with amputated hands
or legs or severe backbone injury on the bed of hospital. Without their cooperation and help
the study would not have been possible. I appreciate all the helps and advices I got from my
teachers and fellow friends about this thesis. Finally, I am indebted to the Department of
Sociology, University of Dhaka, which offers the opportunity for its students to conduct a
research at post-graduate level.

January 2014

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