A recent study report highlighted significant gender pay disparities in Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) factories, with men enjoying a wage advantage of up to 30 per cent over women for base wages.

The study, titled ‘Gender pay gaps in global supply chains: findings from workplaces in Bangladesh, Colombia, Morocco, Thailand and Turkey,’ unveiled varying degrees of gender pay gaps across different countries and sectors.

In Bangladesh, RMG factories exhibited the largest gender pay gaps, ranging from 22 per cent to 30 per cent for base wages. Meanwhile, garment factories in Turkey demonstrated smaller but still notable gaps, ranging between 4 per cent and 17 per cent.

The research also identified disparities in gross cash wages, including overtime pay and bonuses, spanning from -5.5 per cent to 25.9 per cent.

The report underscored women in Bangladesh and Turkey, as well as on Moroccan firms, frequently earned less than their male counterparts for comparable work. Factors contributing to this gap include men negotiating higher base wages and potentially switching factories for better pay, particularly in times of skilled labour shortages.

Across various workplaces, men tend to secure contracts and pay structures associated with higher wages, such as monthly rate pay and piece rate pay in Bangladesh. Additionally, while women in Bangladesh and Thailand tend to work more days per month than men, the reverse is observed in Turkey and Colombia.

The study, based on payroll data and interviews with over 15,000 workers across 12 factories and entities, emphasises the importance of comprehensive evaluations to address gender pay gaps.

Recommendations included employers monitoring wages across the workforce and commitments to closing these gaps, along with industry associations, unions, governments, and brands conducting gender-neutral assessments to ensure pay equity for comparable work.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR)

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