FAQ DecentWorkCheck Bangladesh

Q: How did you, as the Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF), form a partnership with WageIndicator for this project?

The partnership between Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) and WageIndicator came about through discussions focused on improving working conditions and wages in the textile sector. WageIndicator has a proven system for collecting and analysing labour data, particularly through the Worker-Based Monitoring (WBM) approach, which has been used successfully in other countries like Indonesia. BLF’s collaboration with WageIndicator leverages this expertise to enhance data collection and advocacy efforts in Bangladesh, specifically targeting workers’ rights, wages, and environmental conditions in the garment sector.

Q: How big is the scope of the project?

The project is targeting approximately 50 textile factories within the Ashulia region of Dhaka. These factories have been chosen based on several factors, including their proximity to the communities involved and their links with purchasing companies. The aim is to monitor both social and environmental standards in these factories using the WBM and CBM approaches.

Q: How many workers do you aim to involve, for the whole project?

For the duration of the project, the aim is to engage approximately 53,000 workers across these 50 factories. Around 3,000 workers are expected to be interviewed directly as part of the data collection process. These interviews will help gather information on working conditions and wage issues, while the CBM will involve local community residents in assessing environmental impacts.

Q: And how many are involved in taking surveys, collecting data etc. from BLF and partners?

From BLF 10 Data enumerators, 1 field supervisor, 1 team lead and 1 A/C Manager will be involved. Field volunteers will engage with data enumerators while collecting the data.

Q: At what stage are you, at this point?

We recruited 10 data enumerators who are extremely experienced in collecting data. We have also provided them in-house training on the Labour Laws, Acts and Rules of Bangladesh focusing on the DecentWorkCheck survey, including a mock-up session. We are going to organise training facilitated by Nadia Pralitasari (Gajimu) and Fiona Dragstra (WageIndicator Director) in October. This was due to take place in August, but due to political issues in our country, we had to postpone that training. However, we did this internally based on the curriculum provided by Nadia and Fiona.

Q: What is your long-term goal for this project?

The long-term goal is to improve working conditions and reduce environmental hazards in the textile sector. By empowering local trade unions and communities to gather and use data through the WBM and CBM systems, the project aims to establish sustainable dialogues between workers,factory management, and local authorities, leading to tangible improvements in labour rights and environmental safety.The targeted factories will get feedback from the survey report, and the same for the employers and trade unions, so that the collective action can be taken as a whole for the sector.

Q: Has this been done before, in this way, in Bangladesh?

No. This is the first survey like this where the evidence-based approach will be beneficial for trade unions for lobbying, advocacy and bargaining.

Q: Will there be challenges - and what do you think they will be?

Challenges are expected to include gaining access to factories, particularly from management who may resist external monitoring. Engaging factory owners in meaningful dialogue on labour rights and environmental issues may also prove difficult.

Q: Will you be working in collaboration with the WageIndicator Indonesia team, Gajimu?

The project plans to collaborate with WageIndicator Indonesia, especially since the WBM approach was first developed and tested there. The experience of the WageIndicator Indonesia team (Gajimu) will be helpful in adapting the system for use in Bangladesh.

Q: What do you expect will be the outcome of the initial interviews/information collection, concerning textile workers (eg gender pay gap, low wages etc)? What have been traditional problems in textile factories?

The initial data collection is expected to highlight several common problems in the textile sector, including low wages, excessive working hours, gender pay gaps, and limited worker rights. The environmental component of the data is expected to reveal significant health hazards due to factory pollution. In the context of the Decent Work agenda, it will create a separate momentum for trade unions, employers, development partners and CSOs to develop their future strategy.

How did you, as the Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF), form a partnership with WageIndicator for this project?

How big is the scope of the project?

How many workers do you aim to involve, for the whole project?

And how many are involved in taking surveys, collecting data etc. from BLF and partners?

At what stage are you, at this point?

What is your long-term goal for this project?

Has this been done before, in this way, in Bangladesh?

Will there be challenges - and what do you think they will be?

Will you be working in collaboration with the WageIndicator Indonesia team, Gajimu?

What do you expect will be the outcome of the initial interviews/information collection, concerning textile workers (eg gender pay gap, low wages etc)? What have been traditional problems in textile factories?

How do you intend to feed this information back to workers and employers?

How will you monitor future changes in the factory, including compliance with labour laws, once the initial feedback has been delivered?