Publication History
Submitted: June 11, 2024
Accepted: June 29, 2024
Published: June 30, 2024
Identification
D-0326
DOI
https://doi.org/10.71017/djsi.3.6.d-0326
Citation
Nusrat Jahan (2024). Identification of Gender Violence Intensity and Workplace Vulnerabilities: A Cross-sectional Study of Savar Dhaka. Dinkum Journal of Social Innovations, 3(06):328-339.
Copyright
© 2024 The Author(s).
328-339
Identification of Gender Violence Intensity and Workplace Vulnerabilities: A Cross-sectional Study of Savar DhakaOriginal Article
Nusrat Jahan 1*
- Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Government Brojomohun College, Barishal, Bangladesh.
* Correspondence: nusratshukhi955@gmail.com
Abstract: The garment industry of Bangladesh has become the key exporter and a major source of foreign currency for the last 25 years. It is one of the highest contributory sectors of our economy. However, it is a matter of great regret that the workers of the RMG industry are deprived of their minimum necessities and rights rather they are facing gender violence and vulnerabilities both at the workplace and home. This study focuses on the violence and vulnerabilities faced by the garment workers. This study through a survey and some case studies shows that the RMG workers are surviving with poor socio-economic condition. They are living in such an environment where approximately 4.8 people live in a room. Almost 9 to 13 people use a toilet on an average. There are cases where they do not have access to a stove and cook food using other people’s stoves in exchange of monthly payment. The study shows they are facing violence inside the family, on the way, and at the workplace. This violence includes sexual harassment, psychological and mental stress and physical violence. This study shows that while female workers are facing more psychological and sexual violence, the males face more physical and psychological violence. Verbal abuse and abusive behavior from the superiors at the workplace are gendered and very commonly found. Violence of the workers’ human rights is frequent in this sector. The study reports some factories still lock the workers from morning till night which increase the possibilities of greater loss of lives in case of accidents. These workers are also vulnerable due to the informal nature of job, lack of facilities, fire accident, injuries and health problems like headache, back pain, eye problems. The survey reveals that they have long working hours, mandatory overtime, less payment for the overtime, fear of losing job, no facilities of labor unions, no festival allowance, lack of child care facilities and so on which indicates their vulnerabilities. Though they are vulnerable at work and living place, my study shows that most of the workers are satisfied with their working environment. Nonetheless, they are aware that rest of the society has a negative attitude towards them.
Keywords: gender violence, vulnerabilities at work, garment workers in saver, Dhaka
- INTRODUCTION
The Readymade Garment (RMG) industry of Bangladesh has emerged as the largest industrial sectors and the biggest earner of foreign currency which has given the opportunity to millions of unemployed people especially the unskilled, less educated poor women to work [1]. At present, there are four thousand five hundred thirty six garment factories in Bangladesh where 4 million workers are working where more than 80%are females. Though the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry of Bangladesh started from late 1970sBangladesh has a rich heritage of textile manufacturing business from the Mughal period through Dhaka Muslin which had reputation throughout the world [2]. After the second industrial divide the countries of the West became busy with information technology related development and transferred RMG sectors to the least developed countries (LDC) [3]. Like the other LDC countries Bangladesh also took the chance and started readymade garment export with quota and other facilities. It started to contribute after late 1980s in the economy of Bangladesh. Earlier, Read Garments was the pioneer of Bangladeshi RMG sector, established in 1960s as a tailoring outfit named Read store in Dhaka but it could not be an export oriented industry and serve the domestic market for 15 years. After 1970s in Bangladesh the RMG sectors started to develop as export oriented industry [4]. For the first time in 1976s, it became capable to earn foreign currency. There were only 9 export oriented RMG industries in 1978 which generated 1 million US$ export earning that year. Dash garment collaboration with Daewoo corporations of South Korea started its production in early 1980s with 120 operators including 3 women trained in South Korea which was the first 100% export oriented company of Bangladesh. Till the end of 1982 there were 47 garment factories in Bangladesh and the total export in 1983- 1984 was 31.57 US$ (million). In the year of 1992 the Government of Bangladesh declared RMG as a thrust sector. In 2013-2014 the RMG industry earned 24491.8 US$ (million) [5]. It shares the contribution and importance of RMG sector in the economy of Bangladesh. At present Bangladesh is the 2rd largest exporter of clothes through the world after china and Italy. But it has failed to ensure the safety and protection towards its RMG workers who are contributing more in the economy [6]. The RMG workers are more vulnerable at work place which we can understand by the incidence of Rena and 332 workers are still missing), Taren Fashion (113 workers died and another 200 wounded) and Saver Spectrum sweater factory. They are also vulnerable at these living conditions which are unhygienic and tedious [7]. At least 8-13 people use a common toilet. Sometimes they have to cook food from other houses. At workplace they are facing the problem of long working hour, lower salary, health problem, physical, mental and sexual harassment, lack of toilet access when it is necessary [8]. The RMG workers are not only vulnerable but also facing violence at workplace, living place and on the way to work or home. But the most surprising matter is that majority about 56.7% of them are satisfied with their present position (Field survey, 2014). So it is very important to study their vulnerabilities, violence against them and perception of them sociologically [9]. Sociology searches the underlying causes and consequences of sociological phenomena to understand human behavior. In this research, I focus on the gender violence and vulnerabilities at workplace of the RMG workers. Sociologically, this is important since I discuss about the underlying causes of these. RMG industries emerged in Bangladesh because of the interest of capitalism [10]. Capitalism only searches for profit. In Bangladesh there are cheap, abundant labor and low production costs because of poverty and lax government regulations. Most of the workers are from underprivileged class. Globalization and neo- liberalism both are responsible for creating inequality and for the worst situation of the workers [11]. So to understand the gender violence and vulnerabilities at work we must first, describe and then explain these sociologically [12]. It is also important to conduct this study since it is practically very important to understand the vulnerability to mitigate it. This exploration will be an important source of information for the owners, labor rights’ activists and government agencies that are responsible for workers’ welfare and safety [13].Critical political economy is the relationship between economic organizations and political, social as well as cultural life [14]. It mainly focuses on corporate, state power, ownership, cultural life and the unequal distribution of natural as well as symbolic resources [15]. Ferdinand Tennis developed an idealist argument that social phenomena are the products of human thought. In his book Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft he explored the implication of the change in the character of the collective will which had come about in the course of the transition from feudalism to industrial capitalism [16]. The Gemeinschaft (community) and Gesellschaft (association) are different types of social order and human relationship. Gesellschaft means the rural peasant society where personal relationship are defined and regulated on the basis of some traditional social rules which are determined by Wesenwille (natural will) and Gemeinschaft is determined by Kerrville (rational will) which includes modern, cosmopolitan societies with bureaucratic government and large industrial societies. The traditional bonds of the family, kinship and religion are weakened by the rational self-interest and calculating conduct in Gesellschaft which helps the emergence of Gemeinschaf Tennis’ description of the dominant values of preindustrial and industrial societies is influential [17]. If we observe the distinctive, seminary provisional, sensitively bankrupt influential relations of the Gesellschaft type, we should also notice the world-wide partiality of modernization, the migration and urbanization of populations, the industrialization of economics, and preference for supposed liberalization and democratization of states. The RMG industries shifted from developed countries to the developing countries because of the self-interest of the capitalism and it increases capitalist mode of production [18]. The expansion of RMG industries occurred here because of cheap and abundant labor, lower production cost and so on. Similar to the process of Gesellschaft’s transformation to Gemeinschaft the RMG industries also shifted from western countries to the developing countries like Bangladesh and attacked the traditional life of the village people with its capitalist mode of production [19].
- MATERIALS AND METHODS
The procedure of data collection, analysis and interpretations and how it was carried out throughout many stages of the research work. This chapter deals with the sampling, fieldwork strategy, technique of data collection and discussion of ethical issues, reliability and validity. Normally research method is the process of construction of knowledge. Methodology is a set of rules and regulation which is used to investigate a research problem as phenomena. Different research problems have different research goals and strategies. Choice of research method is guided by the nature of the research problem and research goals. There are qualitative quantitative and mix method research strategies. According to Schwedt (2001) methodology is a theory of how inquiry should proceed. It involves analysis of the assumptions, principles and procedures in a particular approach to inquiry that presides over the use of particular methods. Both qualitative and quantitative research method are used in it. Qualitative research is the collection and analysis of narrative data and quantitative methods are used to gather quantitative data or information dealing with numbers and anything that can be measured. A mixed methods approach is one in which the researchers tends to base knowledge claims on pragmatic grounds (e.g. consequence oriented, problem, centered and pherealistic). It employs strategies of either simultaneously or sequentially to best collection also involves gathering both numeric information (e.g. instrumentally) as well as text information e.g. on interviews) so that the final database represents both quantitative and qualitative information. This study includes both quantitative and qualitative approach which generally known as mixed method. I have chosen mixed method for this study because it ensures a more complete picture of human behavior and experiences. The nature of my research problem is suitable for choosing mixed method. It is very helpful to draw conclusion about the problem under this type of study. The present study has been conducted in Saver area. There are almost 106 factories in Saver. The industrial occurrences like fire, building collapse and labor unrest is common and more frequent in Saver area than other places of the country. That’s why I have chosen Saver area have chosen 40 male and 80 female workers a total of 120 respondents for this study. Given the time and resource constraints I could not have more. I have chosen disproportionately more females than males. Although almost 80% of the total RMG workers are female, in my sample I have included only 60% females. This is because I wanted to compare the situation with males to reveal major vulnerabilities they face. Therefore, I have selected more males to have more information about their situation .Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used to collect data. An interview questionnaire schedule has been developed to collect quantitative data and case study has been conducted to collect in-depth qualitative information. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical package of social science, version 18 program Garment workers mean the one who are employed in the garment factories and dependent on it for survival Gender violence means the violence which occurs to maintain structured gender inequalities and includes all type of violence against women, children, adolescent’s, gay and transgendered people. It reflects and reinforces inequalities between men and women. Vulnerabilities is the degree to which people, property, resources system and cultural, economic, environmental and social activity is susceptible to harm or degradation or destruction on being exposed to a hostile agent or factor. A work place is the place where an employee works for an employer. It may be office, factories, stores, farms, out of doors and any location where work in performed. Perception means the organization, identification and interpretation of information in order to understand the environment. Socio economic condition means individuals or group’s positions within a hierarchical social structure depending on their education, income, and occupation and so on .Harassment is unwelcomed behavior that is based on gender, race, color, religion etc. It is intentional behavior which is found threatening or disturbing. There are many type of harassment like sexual, physical, psychological etc. sexual harassment refers to unwanted sexual advances
- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
For my study I have collected information’s about socio economic conditions of the respondents such as age, level of education, marital status, religion, family member, monthly income, expenditure and saving. The results are given below: I have interviewed a total of 120respondents. Among which 80 (about 67percent) are female and 40 (about 33percent) are male respondents. I have deliberately and disproportionately selected more male workers to have comparative data about the experience of male workers that is often overlooked in many earlier studies.
Table 01: Age of workers by gender
Age group | Male | Female (%) | Total |
18-22 | 13 (10.8%) | 29 (24.2%) | (35.0%) |
23-27 | 13 (10.8%) | 36 (30.0%) | (40.8%) |
28-32 | 14 (11.7%) | 15 (12.5%) | (24.2%) |
Total | 40 (33.3%) | 80 (66.7%) | (100%) |
Table shows that about 76% of the respondents’ belong to 18 to 27 year age group and 24% belong to 28-32 age groups. Here the female are younger than male. Most of the female (30%) are in 23-27 age groups but males are more (11.7%) in 28-32 age groups than the other. I did not find anyone younger than 18, which close to some earlier research and different than a few too. Khan (2011) found that 70% of the RMG worker are aged between 18-35 and 30% between 36-55.However, maunder and Begum revealed that in RMG sector the 56%of the worker aged 19 years
Table 02: Level of Education
Level of Education | Male | Female | Total |
Illiterate | 17(14.2%) | 14 (11.7%) | 31(25.8%) |
Primary | 4(3.3%) | 50 (41.7) | 54 (45.0%) |
Lower secondary | 8(6.7%) | 14 (11.7%) | 22 (18.3%) |
S.S.C | 5 (4.2%) | 2 (1.7%) | 7 (5.8%) |
H.S.C | 6 (5.0%) | 0 (.0%) | 6 (5.0%) |
Total | 40 (33.3%) | 80 (66.7%) | 120 (100%) |
Table shows the educational level of the garment workers. It reveals that 45% have passed primary and only 10% had S.S.C or higher. A major part of the respondent, about 26% is illiterate. It proves that most of the garment workers have very low educational background. Here it has also been found that male are more illiterate than women but in case of higher education like S.S.C and H.S.C women are less than male. It can be understood form this that women have less scope to get education after lower secondary but male have that scope. They are mainly unskilled; their chief capital is their physical labor. This finding closely resembles with previous studies for example the study Bunyan on “Present Status of Garment workers in Bangladesh: An analysis”. Where Bunyan shows that most of the female workers only can write their names & address, many of them have education up to primary. Few of them have education up to class eight and only 2 out of 100 attended S.S.C exams but failed to pass. This study reveals that majority of the respondents (56%) are married and 34% are unmarried and only 8% respondents are divorced or separated. Similar findings were reported by Skidder.
Table 03: Monthly Income categories by gender
Monthly income |
Total |
|||||
2000-5000 | 5001-8000 | 11001-14000 | 17001-20000 | |||
Male | Count | 9 | 20 | 5 | 6 | 40 |
% within | 22.5% | 50.0% | 12.5% | 15.0% | 100.0 | |
Gender | % | |||||
% within | 34.6% | 24.4% | 83.3% | 100.0% | 33.3% | |
Monthly | ||||||
Income | ||||||
% of Total | 7.5% | 16.7% | 4.2% | 5.0% | 33.3% | |
Female | Count | 17 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 80 |
Le | % within | 21.3% | 77.5% | 1.3% | .0% | 100.0 |
Gender | % | |||||
% within | 65.4% | 75.6% | 16.7% | .0% | 66.7% | |
Monthly | ||||||
Income | ||||||
% of Total | 14.2% | 51.7% | .8% | .0% | 66.7% | |
Total | Count | 26 | 82 | 6 | 6 | 120 |
% within | 21.7% | 68.3% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 100.0 | |
Gender | % | |||||
% within | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0 | |
Monthly | % | |||||
Income | ||||||
% of Total | 21.7% | 68.3% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 100.0
% |
Monthly income is the essential elements of finding out the sufferings of the workers. Findings of the survey reveal that21.7 % of the respondent’s monthly income is limited within 2000-5000 taka. There also found that most of the respondents 68.3% have monthly incomes within5001-8000 taka and only 10 % of the respondent’s monthly income is above 8000 taka which gives us a portrayal about their lower living standard. It has also been found that females are significantly more likely to have lower monthly income than male. Chi-Square tests reveals (p=.000) that there is a significance association between gender and monthly income in RMG sector.
Table 04: Monthly Expenditure.
Monthly expenditure |
Total |
|||
3000-6000 | 6001-90000 | |||
Male | Count | 29 | 11 | 40 |
% within | 72.5% | 27.5% | 100.0% | |
% within monthly exp. | 27.6% | 73.3% | 33.3% | |
% of Total | 24.2% | 9.2% | 33.3% | |
Female | Count | 76 | 4 | 80 |
E | % within gender | 95.0% | 5.0% | 100.0% |
% within monthly exp. | 72.4% | 26.7% | 66.7% | |
% of Total | 63.3% | 3.3% | 66.7% | |
Total | Count | 105 | 15 | 120 |
% within gender | 87.5% | 12.5% | 100.0% | |
% within monthly exp. | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | |
% of Total | 87.5% | 12.5% | 100.0% |
Most of the respondent’s monthly expenditure is within 3000-6000 and rest of the respondents up to 9000.in this sky-scraping market price era which is too low expenditure to maintain a minimum standard of living. This finding gives us an idea about their inhuman living condition. It also reveals that though women have less monthly income than male so their expenditures are also less than male which discloses the worst situation of the female RMG workers. Chi-Square tests reveals (p=.000) that there is a significance relationship between gender and monthly expenditure of the RMG work
Table 05: Monthly saving
Monthly saving |
Total |
|||||
0-500 |
501-1000 |
1501-
2000 |
2501- 3000 |
|||
Male | Count | 19 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 40 |
% within gender | 47.5% | 42.5% | .0% | 10.0% | 100.0% | |
% within monthly | 24.1% | 50.0% | .0% | 100.0% | 33.3% | |
Saving | ||||||
% of Total | 15.8% | 14.2% | .0% | 3.3% | 33.3% | |
Female | Count | 60 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 80 |
E | % within gender | 75.0% | 21.3% | 3.8% | .0% | 100.0% |
% within monthly | 75.9% | 50.0% | 100.0% | .0% | 66.7% | |
Saving | ||||||
% of Total | 50.0% | 14.2% | 2.5% | .0% | 66.7% | |
Total | Count | 79 | 34 | 3 | 4 | 120 |
% within gender | 65.8% | 28.3% | 2.5% | 3.3% | 100.0% | |
% within monthly | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | |
Saving | ||||||
% of Total | 65.8% | 28.3% | 2.5% | 3.3% | 100.0% |
This table shows that majority (65.8%) of the respondents can save 0-500 taka monthly and 28.3% can save 501 to 1000 taka. It also found that 5.8% can save money up to 3000. Though almost all of the respondents have a lower standard of living and lower salary but they try to save money for their better future. There are fewer differences between male and female’s monthly savings .Most of them can save 0-500 taka per month. Here it also can be seen that 4 (3.3%) male can save 2501-3000 taka per month. These 4 people seem to be the extremely well position and therefore showing significantly different amount of savings than oath.
Table 06: Living years in town
Years of living | Frequency | Percent |
0-3 | 49 | 40.8% |
4-6 | 38 | 31.7% |
7-9 | 17 | 14.2% |
Above 10 | 16 | 13.3% |
Total | 120 | 100.0% |
This table demonstrates respondents living years in town. About 40.8% of the respondents are living in town for 0-3 years which shows their lack of skill and knowledge about work because they are new in the city as well as in RMG sector work. This is a major reason behind their low salary. Only 13.3% are living in cities above 10 years.
Table 07: Name of the post
Name of the post | Male | Female | Total |
Helper | 8(6.7%) | 32 (26.7%) | 40 (33.3%) |
Operator | 18(15.0) | 42(36.0%) | 60 (50.0%) |
Inspection | 3 (2.5) | 0(.0%) | 3 (2.5%) |
Quality controller | 1 (.8%) | 5(4.2%) | 6 (5.0%) |
Supervisor | 2(1.0%) | 0 (.0%) | 2 (1.7%) |
Sample department | 2(1.0%) | 1 (.8%) | 3 (2.55%) |
In charge | 6(5%) | 0(.0%) | 6 (5.0%) |
Total | 40(33.3) | 80(66.7) | 120 (100.0%) |
This table demonstrates the name of the post of the respondents. It has been found that among 120 respondents 33.3% helper, 50% operator. Almost 91.8% are working in lower post and only 9.2% in higher post or called as staff because the lower post working classes are more vulnerable than the higher post worker. Women are more likely to be found in lower post than the male. Almost 63% women are found to be work as operator and helper. Only 1 woman is found to work in higher post. This finding discloses that women have lower opportunities to get better position in RMG sector. So there is also a significant relationship between gender and getting better position in RMG sector.
Table 08: Work experience and year of working in this job
Year of working | Male | Female | Total |
1-3 | 20(16.7%) | 46(38.3%) | 55.0% |
4-6 | 13(10.8%) | 29 (24.2%) | 35.0% |
7-9 | 1(.8%) | 3(2.5%) | 3.3% |
Above 10 | 6(5.0%) | 2(1.7%) | 6.7% |
Total | 40(33.3%) | 80(66.7%) | 100.0% |
Length of service is an important yardstick to measure the extent of sufferings and exploitations faced by workers Table shows that 55.0% of the respondents are working in this job for 1-3 years 35.0% for 4-6 years and only 6.7% above 10 years. This finding reveals that the RMG worker cannot work for long time in a factory. Because their salary depends on their working experience and skill of work so the administrations of the factory sometime fire them. It reveals that Female have less experience than men. Among the respondents 50% have served another place garment industry before getting this post and another 50% don’t have any other factories work experience.
Table 09: Getting salary and working hour
Working hour | Frequency | Percent |
8-10 | 32 | 26.7% |
11-13 | 88 | 73.3% |
Total | 120 | 100.0% |
Findings of the survey show that 26.7% of the respondents have to work 8 to 10 hours daily and rest of the 73.3% have to work 11-13 hour daily. This finding is closely resemble to the previous study of Midol and Khan “Working Conditions and Reproductive Health Status of Female Garments Workers of Bangladesh” that they have to work hard and more than 12 hours a day for their livelihood. Most of the workers get their salary within 9-12th of a month and rests 45.0% get their salary within 5-8th of a month.
Table 10: Weekly overtime and extra salary
Hour of working | Frequency | Percent |
12-14 | 14 | 11.7% |
15-17 | 5 | 4.2% |
18-20 | 71 | 59.2% |
21-24 | 30 | 25.0% |
Total | 120 | 100.0% |
The table demonstrates the weekly working hour of the respondents. About 59.2% have to work 18 to 20 hours per week and 25.0% have to work 21-14 hour per week.
Figure 01: Paid for Overtime
The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the School Learning Action Cell (SLAC) program on teachers’ instructional mastery and pedagogical efficacy. The pre line data was collected using structured questionnaire before the execution of intervention strategies of reading. It was found that only 4 students enjoy reading a lot and 23 students like reading sometimes. So, the data says that the students who like reading was satisfactory and some of the students were really lagging behind in reading. Thus, from that data it was very clear that there was huge achievement gap between the students.
Discussion
The rapid expansion of RMG industry of Bangladesh has depended upon it’s one and only so-called advantage cheap and abundant labor. Currently about 4 million workers are employed in around the four thousand five hundred thirty six garment factories of which most of the workers are women from underprivileged social background [20]. Approximately about 80 percent of the total workers of garment industry are women. Most of the female workers are very young. A study shows that about 80% percent female workers are less than 30 while only about 4% percent workers are aged above 41 years [21]. Another study shows that 70 percent of them are aged between 18-35 and 30 percent of them are aged between 36-55 years. A recent study shows that the average age of the female garment workers is approximately 24 years [22]. It has been found that about 93% of the female workers are aged less than 30 years while the rest are aged above 30 years. From these it can be understood that female workers cannot work for long time in the garment factory because of occupational hazards and the fact that the employers can afford to employ new workers at low wage [23]. Most of the aged female workers complained that the management intentionally behaves roughly so that they quit the job .Education is the backbone and foundation of getting a job and performing better in the job. It helps to reduce male-female wage differences and harassments faced by the female workers in the workplace [24]. However, the garment workers are in worse condition regarding the academic education. Most of them can only write name and address and left school after primary. The following reasons might be responsible for the lack of educational skills: poverty, ignorance, easy accessibility of job, societal barriers. Another survey indicates that only about 3% are illiterate and 25% can sign only [25].
- CONCLUSION
The RMG sector has been leading the economy of Bangladesh since the 1980s. It has become the second largest exporter of cloth within the whole world. It has created an opportunity to employ 4 million people most of those who are from poor economic background. The RMG industry is the first sector to employ a large number of poor workers especially females of Bangladesh outside their home. However, it is a matter of great regret that the female workers of the RMG sector are facing problem inside and outside of their working places. The major reasons behind recruiting unskilled or semi-skilled female workers in the RMG sector are the nature of work and the fact that the owners perceive them to be easy to manage. Female workers are considered as obedient, non-aggressive, and non-violent than the male workers. But in management level job male workers are still dominating over women and women are working mainly as helper, operator and similar lower posts. They also do not receive any training that will create scope for personal professional development. Living condition and economic condition of the female workers of RMG sector is not satisfactory but they have to work hard to meet their basic need and survivals. Still they have to live in very precarious conditions where they have to share toilets, kitchens and most other amenities of the city life with too many people. The study shows that they have to live in slum areas where lack of sanitation, water, furnace system etc. is very common. Sometimes they have to cook food from other houses in exchange of money and also more than 8 people use a toilet on an average. The study shows that most of the workers get their salary after the 10th of a month. They even get less payment for overtime and sometimes the management fines some amount from salary because of being late at work or for talking with others or for not fulfilling the target according to the supervisor. They have to work almost 11-13 hours per day one an average. Moreover they are not given appointment letter, sometimes they have to work on holidays, cannot use toilet when it is necessary. The study finds that the verbal abuse and abusive behavior are common in this sector and sometimes the workers are beaten up by the supervisors. Female workers often focus on sexual harassment from co-workers, supervisors and officers. The respondents reported that sometimes they are not able to perform their religious activities while at work and even do not get leave if they feel sick. Moreover they have to work in such an environment which is not safe. Fear of losing job, health problem, fire accident, building collapses, lack of initial treatment etc. is common here. On the way They are also facing sexual harassment and verbal abuse. In their living condition they are very vulnerable. The survey also shows that in RMG women are in worse situation than males. Women do not get higher position though they have capabilities. Their monthly salary is also significantly less than the males which is proven by a significant Chi square test. Also more than 60% of the respondents have the fear of losing job especially the female. Women are more likely to be sexually and psychologically vulnerable not only at work place but also on the way than the male even at home majority of my female respondents are also experiencing violence by their family members. No male respondent has been found who has faced violence on the way or at home even at work place they are vulnerable to only physical and psychological violence. But females are victims of all of the above abuses and harassments. Surprisingly from amidst such precarious living and working condition, these women are like phoenix, they have aspirations about life. More than 50% of my female respondents have aspiration of getting a permanent job, which is much higher than the male counterparts. It is because of these women and their hope about changing their lives they work so hard. And because of their aspiration and hard work the RMG sector became the major contributing sector of the economy of Bangladesh. But they are still vulnerable and dominated. That’s why this sector needs to ensure their security and violence free workplace. Though women of the RMG sector can earn money but they have to work more. They have no time for themselves. The study reveals that about 50% women give the time to their family after work but the male have less time to give their family. They don’t have any leisure. From the study it is clear that the RMG worker are experiencing violence and vulnerabilities both at work and living place and Female are more vulnerable and in the worst situation than male .In order to make these women capable citizens with capabilities of decision making and better life, the global capitalism needs to stop their untamed greed and frontier capitalism to exploit profit based on low wages and unsafe factories. The big brands and national level owners needs to understand that farther growth of this sector is dependent on increasing capabilities of these women, not by keeping them in vulnerable and violent living and working conditions.
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Publication History
Submitted: June 11, 2024
Accepted: June 29, 2024
Published: June 30, 2024
Identification
D-0326
DOI
https://doi.org/10.71017/djsi.3.6.d-0326
Citation
Nusrat Jahan (2024). Identification of Gender Violence Intensity and Workplace Vulnerabilities: A Cross-sectional Study of Savar Dhaka. Dinkum Journal of Social Innovations, 3(06):328-339.
Copyright
© 2024 The Author(s).