Growth, Development and Selected Social Sustainability Challenges Facing the Bangladesh Export Garment Industry

Occupying the prestigious second place globally, the readymade export garment industry is the most important manufacturing and export industry in Bangladesh. The industry took root in the 1980s and has subsequently grown very rapidly since the 1990s, and now it contributes significantly to employment, income, exports, foreign exchange earnings, national output, and the overall social and economic development of the country. This paper focuses on the growth and development of the industry over the years, along with a critical discussion of some major social sustainability challenged facing this industry, particularly those pertaining to child labor issues, worker income, the gender gap, and worker and workplace safety, among others. The paper uses a mixture of quantitative and non-quantitative analysis and utilizes data and information from secondary sources to analyze the issues. The authors fill a critical gap in the existing literature on social sustainability challenges facing the export garment industry and finds that the country has made significant progress; however, however, more needs to be done improve social sustainability. The authors argue that not addressing these challenges, particularly external ones, may threaten the long-term viability and sustainability of this industry in the global stage. The paper discusses the progress made in these fronts, and the prospects for the future, so that the industry continue to play a pivotal role at the global stage and in the overall economic, social, and human development of the country.