An official report on Bangladesh's ready-made garment industry shows poor compliance with regard to issuance of appointment letters and identity cards to the workers, preserving their service records and granting maternity leave and other lawful benefits to them. In the absence of appointment letters, service books and ID cards, the workers are deprived of their lawful rights and benefits. Such deprivation took place in the cases of Tazreen Fashion and Rana Plaza workers, labour leaders alleged.

The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment (DIFE) under the ministry of labour and employment has come up with the findings after it carried out monthly inspection in some 212 ready-made garment factories in May 2016. The report says, about 63 per cent of the apparel factories were found engaging their workers in extra hours of work without taking prior permission from the authorities concerned. Only 11 per cent of the factories not affiliated with BGMEA and the BKMEA met the requirements.

Out of the surveyed units, 145 were the members of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and 32 of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). Others are not allowed to join any trade unions because of this. Irregularities are more in apparel factories that are not the members of any of the two trade bodies, according to the report.