The Unprecedented Pandemic 'COVID-19' Effect on the Bangladesh Apparel Workers by Shivering the Apparel Supply Chain

Sen, S., Antara, N., Sen, S., & Chowdhury, S. (2020). The Unprecedented Pandemic 'COVID-19' Effect on the Apparel Workers by shivering the Apparel Supply Chain. Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, 11(3), 1–20.

23 Pages Posted: 13 May 2020 Last revised: 6 Aug 2020

See all articles by Shuvro Sen

Shuvro Sen

University of Dhaka; BRAC Univeristy; University of Dhaka

Neel Antara

Brandenburg University of Technology

Shusmita Sen

University of Chittagong

Sunny Chowdhury

International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC)

Date Written: May 11, 2020

Abstract

COVID-19, known as a pandemic, affects the global economy. ILO declared this virus as a labor market and economic crisis. This study has been conducted for understanding the effect of COVID-19 on the apparel industry and the apparel manufacturing workers. This is a descriptive study, following the inductive procedure. The relevant information has been collected from the current academic literature, newspapers, reports publications, and relevant web pages. An online interview with the manufacturers, policymakers, trade unions, researchers, and academicians has been conducted for primary information collection. This study has found that the apparel industry is one of the most affected industries among the other industries by COVID-19. The retailers’ shops are being closed with having zero turnovers which leads to ordering cancelation to the manufacturing factories. Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing industry is also drastically affected due to COVID-19. The factories can’t pay the workers’ salaries in this critical situation. Therefore, millions of workers have been sent home without their wages. Sometimes, it has predicted that the workers would lose jobs due to factory closure. The Government took lots of initiatives i.e. tax rebates, reduce VAT, financial support to the owners to pay the workers’ wages, loan installment rescheduling, etc. Albeit, these initiatives were taken for the welfare of the factory owners and the workers remain oppressed. So, a proper policy strategy is indeed an emergency to support the destitute workforce during the COVID-19 as well as in future financial crises that can happen due to this kind of epidemic or any reason. This study will be supportive to the stakeholders of this sector to learn the impact of COVID-19 on the workers and make the necessary adjustment for the future betterment.

Keywords: COVID-19; Economic Impact; Apparel Industry; Supply Chain Disruption; Workers; Bangladesh

JEL Classification: J63, J71, J78, J81, J83

Suggested Citation

Sen, Shuvro and Sen, Shuvro and Antara, Neel and Sen, Shusmita and Chowdhury, Sunny, The Unprecedented Pandemic 'COVID-19' Effect on the Bangladesh Apparel Workers by Shivering the Apparel Supply Chain (May 11, 2020). Sen, S., Antara, N., Sen, S., & Chowdhury, S. (2020). The Unprecedented Pandemic 'COVID-19' Effect on the Apparel Workers by shivering the Apparel Supply Chain. Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, 11(3), 1–20. , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3598542 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3598542

Shuvro Sen (Contact Author)

University of Dhaka ( email )

University of Dhaka
Dhaka 1000
Ramna, Dhaka, Dhaka 1000
Bangladesh

BRAC Univeristy ( email )

66 Mohakhali C/A
Dhaka 1212 Bangladesh
Dhaka, 1212
Bangladesh

University of Dhaka ( email )

University of Dhaka
Dhaka 1000
Ramna, Dhaka, Dhaka 1000
Bangladesh

Neel Antara

Brandenburg University of Technology ( email )

PO Box 101344
Cottbus, 03013
Germany

Shusmita Sen

University of Chittagong ( email )

Hathazari, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Chittagong, Chittagong 4330
Bangladesh

Sunny Chowdhury

International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC) ( email )

College Road
Chittagong
Chittagong, 4318
Bangladesh

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