Business Report :
Automation had led to a 30.58 per cent decline in the total workforce across production processes in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector with the majority of the displaced workers being helpers, according to a study.
Automation has posed significant challenges to RMG workers, particularly women, the aged, less literate, unskilled, and low-confident workers, despite its positive impacts on economic growth and overall productivity.
As per the study titled “Assessment of Technological Transition in the Apparel Sector of Bangladesh and Its Impact on Workers”, the sweater factory sector saw the highest percentage of worker decline, with a 37.03per cent reduction per production line. Woven factories recorded a slightly lower decline of 27.23per cent per line of production.
The study, conducted jointly by Solidaridad Bangladesh, Labour Foundation, and BRAC University, was presented during a dissemination ceremony held at Hotel Amarillo in the capital on Sunday.
The report also highlighted that automation in the cutting process experienced the highest percentage of worker reduction, with a 48.34per cent decline, while the sewing process showed a lower reduction of 26.57per cent.
The reduced need for workers due to automation raises critical concerns about the concept of “Just Transition,” according to the study’s executive summary.
BGMEA Support Committee member Miran Ali said worker efficiency in the RMG sector has been affected by external inefficiencies such as power shortages, port congestion, and road traffic.
“If we can address these issues, worker efficiency will be higher than the current level,” he stated.
He further added, “We should work to improve these inefficiencies so that workers do not suffer as a result. The industry will not fully embrace automation, but there is potential to adopt partial automation, which can help improve worker productivity and health safety.”
Additionally, Miran Ali suggested the government should focus on introducing automation not only in production processes but also within its own bodies, including the labour ministry, to enhance overall efficiency in the sector.
