Serving Workers or the Party? Unravelling the Historic Struggle of Trade Union Movement in Bangladesh’s Readymade Garment Industry

Abstract

Trade unions closely interact with the agendas of political parties and state laws, and the labor movement and worker representation are constantly changing. Despite Bangladesh's very late industrialization and the subsequent introduction of contemporary trade union operations in this region, the trade union movement has a long history of struggle in this subcontinent. Since the post-MFA era, the establishment of a neo-liberal economy, the use of new technology at work, and the growth of social movement involvement among employees and their management have significantly impacted stable workplace structures in Bangladesh's garment sector. The primary goal of this study is to examine how the trade union movement has increased its influence on politics under different regimes and established social dialogue platforms to promote workers' interests in Bangladesh's apparel sector. This research is an exploratory attempt to investigate the historical backdrop of the trade union movement and its continued interaction with the political regime. It uses both primary and secondary data sources. This study will help with the historical investigation of the relationship between political orientation and trade unions, especially in the export-oriented RMG sector.