The Exploitation of Women Workers: Unveiling Capitalism in Bangladeshi Garment Industries

Abstract

The recent series of man-made accidents in Bangladeshi garment industries are highly disturbing to the collective conscience of human beings. These accidents point not only to the poor construction of the factory buildings but also to the invisible tie between the insatiable need for cheap clothing on the part of western consumers and the unlimited greed of the local industry owners. Because most of the workers are economically desperate women and the industries are operated by a capitalist system that denies the rights of women, a systemic exploitation results. Drawing upon the recent tragic events of the deadliest industry disasters in Bangladesh, this paper examines how the industry owners perceive, and practice, ‘human rights'? It also investigates whether neo-colonial modernity is merely exploiting women while pretending to improve their economic conditions, and finally, to what extent female industry workers can overturn the vicious circle of exploitation to establish their rights.