Globalisation and Gender: Changing Patterns of Women's Employment in Bangladesh

The volume contains a set of papers which summarise the findings of a research study undertaken by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in collaboration with the United Nations Research Institute on Social Development (UNRISD). It complements the work in other countries such as Vietnam, Uganda, Morocco and Jamaica. The main issues addressed are the implications of globalisation and changes in the macroeconomic context of Bangladesh; its impact on the unprecedented growth of female employment, particularly in the readymade garments (RMG) sector of the economy in view of the rapidly growing export processing zones (EPZs) of the country. Other parallel changes in the economy which are also explored in this volume include the gender impact of targeted microcredit and other programmes of NGOs, which influenced women’s participation in the economy, particularly in rural areas. The study, thus, makes a significant contribution to understanding the female labour market in Bangladesh. Its various dimensions are looked into, such as household decision-making processes, the role of the female labour in the urban setting and at the workplace, including efforts of labour organisations, and the continued changes in global configurations and adjustments made at the plant level with implications for women workers.