Staff reporter :
Rising temperatures, inadequate ventilation, and excessive working hours are making workers in Bangladesh’s RMG, leather, and footwear sectors increasingly sick — resulting in lower productivity, missed export goals, and growing pressure on the national economy.
A new study by the Department of Public Health and Informatics at Jahangirnagar University found that 82percent of workers in these industries suffer from heat stress, while many face deteriorating health conditions that reduce their efficiency and threaten their livelihoods.
The RMG, leather, and footwear industries jointly contribute 8.76percent to Bangladesh’s GDP and account for over 83percent of total exports, employing around four million workers.
However, the study revealed that the combined impact of climate change and poor working environments has severely affected factory performance.
About 23.5percent of garment factories reported production delays, while 89.2percent of footwear workers showed decreased productivity.
Among leather and footwear workers, 17.3percent and 3.2percent, respectively, failed to meet production targets.
Lead researcher Md Shakhaoat Hossain said, “Climate change is deeply affecting the livelihoods, health, and mental wellbeing of workers in these industries. Excessive heat, poor ventilation, and thermal stress are causing skin and respiratory problems, headaches, and psychological strain”.
Reduced production leads to job insecurity, and many fear layoffs. Among women, water- and reproductive-health-related issues are also increasing, he added.
The research covered 700 workers—400 from RMG, 150 from leather, and 150 from footwear factories—across Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur, and Hemayetpur. It also included 44 key informant interviews, seven focus group discussions, and eight case studies.
One female garment worker said, “There’s no proper airflow in the factory. Every day, someone faints from the heat.”
Nearly 49percent of workers work 9–11 hours a day, and 25percent exceed 11 hours. Due to the heat and suffocating conditions, 48.6percent reported headaches, skin irritation, and breathing problems.
Conditions are even worse in the leather sector, where only 23percent of workers have access to health services. One in four female workers face irregular menstruation, and one in six risk miscarriage.
Associate Professor Eshita Biswas, an internal medicine specialist, noted that long hours, heat, overcrowding, and malnutrition cause dehydration, anaemia, and stress, leading to lower efficiency and disrupted production.
The study also found that 91percent of workers are internal migrants, with over 10percent displaced by climate impacts.
Yet urban life has brought higher rents, cramped housing, and limited social protection—over 40percent lack safety nets, and only 10percent have health insurance.
Experts warn that if these issues remain unaddressed, export earnings could fall further.
They urged joint efforts by factory owners, brands, and trade unions to ensure safer workplaces and a fair “Just Transition,” supported by government incentives and strong monitoring to protect both workers and the economy.
