The dilemmas of minimum wages of RMG workers in Bangladesh in the age of globalisation and neoliberalism: a qualitative case review

Abstract

Since the 1980s, Western and European multinational corporations, notably clothing and fashion brands, have shifted their production to developing nations, particularly in the ready-made garments (RMG)-producing countries like Bangladesh. This shift, driven by the dominant economic and political doctrines of globalisation and neoliberalism, has led to the deliberate targeting of developing nations to exploit their abundant labour forces and strengthen global capitalism. The RMG industry in Bangladesh, a prime example, pays its workers meagre wages. However, it is the global brands, through their outsourcing practices, that hold significant power and contribute to the exploitation of RMG workers in Bangladesh while reaping substantial profits. This article highlights these issues and urgently calls for essential policy recommendations to reform the minimum wage structure for RMG workers in Bangladesh.