A new study by the University of Nottingham’s Rights Lab and GoodWeave International reveals the ongoing risks of modern slavery and child labor in Bangladesh’s garment supply chain. The report highlights exploitation in hidden, subcontracted factories and provides recommendations for stakeholders to protect workers and children.

Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector employs over four million people, mostly women, and exports 80 per cent of its products to Europe and the US. While labor conditions in export factories have improved since the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster, exploitation in subcontracted production remains largely undocumented.

With funding from UK International Development, researchers surveyed over 2,000 workers, including minors, across 20 industrial clusters in Dhaka and Chattogram. Findings reveal that child labor persists, particularly in subcontracted factories, with all minors interviewed being illegally employed. The study also found that 32 per cent of adult workers earn below the minimum wage, and 7 per cent live under the international poverty line. Nearly one-third of factory workers exceed legal overtime limits, and female workers earn significantly less than men. Additionally, 56 per cent of surveyed workers reported experiencing threats or abuse, with women and minors being the most affected.

The report urges the Bangladeshi government, global brands, suppliers, and labor organizations to enhance supply chain transparency, enforce due diligence, ensure fair wages, and implement stronger protections against child and forced labor. It calls for establishing effective grievance mechanisms to safeguard worker rights.

The Rights Lab and GoodWeave will hold a series of events to discuss the findings, starting with a virtual session at the 2025 OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector on February 10.