Violence against women garment workers in Bangladesh is not just an individual tragedy, it is systemic. A new icddr,b study reveals that 55% of female garment workers are victims of psychological violence at work, while domestic violence by husbands also remains alarmingly high. All forms of violence except sexual assault have increased over the last two years, exposing how women’s lives are controlled both in the factory and at home.
Despite enduring relentless abuse, most women do not seek justice. Formal complaints are rare, and even informal help from friends or family has sharply declined, falling from 35% to only 21% over two years. Fear, stigma, and the absence of structural support force women into silence. In the workplace, just one in five women reported violence to factory authorities, a figure unchanged despite years of “compliance monitoring.”
The research also underlines how the factories themselves neglect women’s basic needs. Only 22% of surveyed factories had sanitary pads available, and just 14% provided information on family planning supplies. Counseling services are minimal and under-resourced. These gaps show that the global apparel industry thrives on women’s exploitation, while their health and dignity are treated as disposable.
For decades, women garment workers have carried Bangladesh’s economy on their shoulders, yet they are denied safety, respect, and reproductive rights. The rising violence in both private and public spheres is not accidental, it is a symptom of patriarchal control and a profit-driven industry built on women’s suffering.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 