Bangladesh's Garment Industry: Smart Manufacturing's Double-Edged Sword
2025-03-06
Facing rising wages and competition, Bangladesh's garment factories are embracing "smart manufacturing," including devices like "Nidle" that monitor worker productivity. While automation boosts efficiency and factory owners claim it allows for higher wages, workers and unions argue wage increases stem from protests, not automation. Automation has led to job losses, particularly for women, and increased pressure, forcing workers to forgo breaks to meet targets. This raises concerns about whether automation exacerbates worker exploitation and questions the responsibility of international brands.