Behind the Seams: A Comparative Analysis of Working Conditions in the Garment Sector and ILO Involvement in Asian Countries

This thesis investigates the impact of International Labour Organization (ILO) involvement on working conditions in the garment sectors of China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. While existing literature emphasizes environmental impacts and uses brands as the primary unit of analysis, this study focuses on human impacts and adopts a country-level comparative approach. Through comparative case studies and analysis of ILO involvement, particularly through Decent Work Country Programs (DWCPs), the research finds that ILO engagement has coincided with improvements in labor standards, particularly in Bangladesh and Vietnam. However, China showed more limited progress, largely due to political constraints. The findings suggest that trade agreements with embedded labor provisions, such as the EUVFTA and CPTPP, have been more effective levers for change than ILO programming alone. This study concludes that while the ILO's direct enforcement capacity is limited, its norm-setting role remains essential, especially in shaping international labor standards and influencing future policy through formal engagement.