Expectations, Wage Hikes, and Worker Voice

Enabling worker voice could improve worker retention and effort by providing workers the chance to improve their situation or an outlet to express discontent. We provide a test of this hypothesis via a randomised controlled trial in Indian garment factories. Just after what proved to be a disappointing wage hike, workers were chosen at random to participate in an anonymous survey in which they were asked for feedback on job conditions, supervisor performance, and overall job satisfaction. Enabling voice in this manner reduced turnover and absenteeism after the hike, particularly for the most disappointed workers.

Evaluating Moderating Effect of Growth Need Intent on Relationship between Job Characteristics and Job Satisfaction amongst Garments Industry Workers in Pakistan

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to analyze the correlation between the job characteristics and satisfaction among production workers in the garments sector assembly line and also to examine the moderating impact of growth need intent on both variables. The five job characteristics were employed in this research. Design/Methodology/Approach: This research was carried out in seven garment factories in Lahore. Data has been collected from production workers of different departments; cutting, sewing, pattern making, washing, pressing, packaging, and quality checking of randomly selected factories. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Considering the sample size estimation, the ratio has not to be below 1:5. (Hair, Black, Babin & Anderson, 2010) and 125 have been selected by a convenient method of sampling. Smart PLS has been used as a statistical tool for data processing and testing the hypothesis. Findings: The research suggests two important findings. Firstly, the job characteristics significantly affect job satisfaction. Secondly, it shows that the relationship between job characteristics and satisfaction is significantly moderated by growth need intent. Implications/Originality/Value: This research will add value to the existing knowledge base and serve as a guideline for HR policymakers in the textile & garments industry to recognize the needs for the development of their workers.

Understanding the urban livelihoods and wellbeing of migrant women working in garment factories in Vientiane, Laos

<p>Rural-urban migrants are the major contributions to the labour force that drives the manufacturing sector in Laos. Migrants, particularly young women, contribute abundant cheap labour to garment industries. Despite their hard work and contribution, the living and working conditions for migrants are often overlooked. This thesis explores the migration, livelihoods and wellbeing of migrant women working in the garment factories in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. This thesis focuses particularly on how working in the factories and living in the city affects the wellbeing of women. The field research was conducted in three garment factories in Vientiane where most garment factories are located. The data was obtained mainly from ten individual interviews and four focus group sessions with women workers. Additionally, ten officials from public and private sector were interviewed to bring additional perspectives into this research. The theoretical framework of the study derives from the sustainable livelihood framework to explore the main aspects of women’s livelihoods. Also, Marxist, radical and post-structural feminist theories are incorporated into the framework to analyse the issues facing migrant women. This research pays attention to how women are oppressed as a subordinated class and gender, as well as to how women individually and collectively use their agency to improve their conditions. This thesis claims that working in the factory and living in the city have both positive and negative consequences for women workers. It has increased the human, social and financial capital of women workers. However, women were oppressed in many forms by their capitalist employers as well as by men inside and outside the factory. However, although women workers experience exploitation and oppression, they are able to construct their new identities and develop strategies to cope in their everyday lives.</p>

Understanding the urban livelihoods and wellbeing of migrant women working in garment factories in Vientiane, Laos

<p>Rural-urban migrants are the major contributions to the labour force that drives the manufacturing sector in Laos. Migrants, particularly young women, contribute abundant cheap labour to garment industries. Despite their hard work and contribution, the living and working conditions for migrants are often overlooked. This thesis explores the migration, livelihoods and wellbeing of migrant women working in the garment factories in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. This thesis focuses particularly on how working in the factories and living in the city affects the wellbeing of women. The field research was conducted in three garment factories in Vientiane where most garment factories are located. The data was obtained mainly from ten individual interviews and four focus group sessions with women workers. Additionally, ten officials from public and private sector were interviewed to bring additional perspectives into this research. The theoretical framework of the study derives from the sustainable livelihood framework to explore the main aspects of women’s livelihoods. Also, Marxist, radical and post-structural feminist theories are incorporated into the framework to analyse the issues facing migrant women. This research pays attention to how women are oppressed as a subordinated class and gender, as well as to how women individually and collectively use their agency to improve their conditions. This thesis claims that working in the factory and living in the city have both positive and negative consequences for women workers. It has increased the human, social and financial capital of women workers. However, women were oppressed in many forms by their capitalist employers as well as by men inside and outside the factory. However, although women workers experience exploitation and oppression, they are able to construct their new identities and develop strategies to cope in their everyday lives.</p>

Garments furniture design for Bangladeshi workers considering ergonomic principles

BACKGROUND: In Bangladesh, workers typically spend at least eight hours a day at garment factories in sitting and/or standing position. Prolonged sitting on ergonomically unfit furniture causes back, neck, and shoulder pain, which reduces the working efficiency and leading to low productivity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to design ergonomically correct furniture for Bangladeshi garment workers considering multivariate analysis on the anthropometric data. METHODS: Twelve anthropometric measures and five furniture dimensions were measured. The sample comprised of 600 volunteer workers from different garment industry. The furniture dimensions were compared with the relevant anthropometric characteristics and found a high level of mismatch (e.g. seat height (male 18%, female 94.25%), seat depth (male 96%, female 63.50%), seat width (male 9.50%, female 36.25%), sewing table height (male 56.50%, female 50%), and desk height for inspection, cutting and ironing table (male 100%, female 100%). RESULTS: New design specifications were proposed of the worker which improved the match percentage. The multivariate anthropometric analysis generated 8 cases and for each case the ranges of anthropometric measurements have been identified. CONCLUSION: The results will help to design robust ergonomic garments furniture.

RESEARCH TEMPERATURES OF IGNITION AND SELF-IGNITION OF COTTON AND POLYESTER FABRICS

Formulation of the problem. Most of the fabrics used in the technological processes of garment enterprises are classified as combustible materials and are part of the fire load, which threatens the outbreak and rapid spread of fires in the premises of garment factories. Therefore, it is important to study the indicators of the fire hazard of fabrics to identify the most dangerous of them, as well as to increase the efficiency of fire safety at sewing enterprises.The purpose of the work is to obtain the dependences of the values of ignition and self-ignition temperatures of cotton fabrics on the composition of cotton.Results. It was found that the crushed 100% cotton fabric flamed best, and the worst − solid polyester as a fabric without cotton. The lowest value of the temperature at which ignition was observed was 215°C for cotton (100%, shredded fabric), and if this value is reduced - there were failures, which are caused in particular by the fact that at lower temperatures flammable vapours are no formed in concentrations sufficient for combustion. It was found that the ignition / spontaneous combustion temperatures for a solid sample of the fabric with a composition of 100% cotton are 235°C/420°C, and for a solid sample of the fabric with a composition of 100% polyester − 360°C/500°C, respectively. Ignition / spontaneous com-bustion temperatures for finely divided fabrics are 8,5%/4,78% (cotton fabric) and 2.8%/6% (polyester) lower than the values obtained for whole fabrics.Results. According to the results of the analysis of the most common fabrics (table 1) used in garment enterprises. Identified that the biggest fire hazard is inherent containing cotton. The lowest ignition temperature is observed for cotton (100% shredded fabric) and is 215°C, which is 1,63 times less than the ignition temperature of polyester (0% cotton, shredded fabric). The lowest self-ignition temperature is also observed for cotton (100% shredded fabric) and is 400°C, which is 1,18 less than the self-ignition temperature of polyester (0% cotton, shredded fabric).

Transfer mechanisms for lean implementation with OHS integration in the garment industry

PurposeLean manufacturing has the potential for simultaneously improving the competitiveness and the social sustainability of the apparel industry in developing countries. However, there is limited research on the ways to a successful lean implementation in developing countries and with an emphasis on occupational health and safety (OHS) improvement.Design/methodology/approachThe paper investigates four cases of lean implementation in garment factories and uses the design science research strategy, building on the context-intervention-mechanism-outcome (CIMO) framework to identify explanatory mechanisms that can be used for designing future action.FindingsThe study identifies tangible mechanisms that can lead to successful lean implementation. The most important mechanisms relate to practical top management support, worker involvement, application of lean tools and training.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study can guide better lean implementation for the many garment factories in developing countries.Originality/valueWhile the lean literature provides general recommendations for lean implementation, knowledge about the transfer mechanisms in developing countries as well as the connections between lean and OHS is limited. This paper contributes to lean implementation theory and to the discourse of positive lean by integrating efficiency and working conditions. In addition, the paper identifies transfer mechanisms for lean implementation in the garment industry in a developing country.

Hidden in plain sight: the bystander effect and the mobilisation of modern slavery whistleblowing

Purpose The purpose of this study is to provide new insight into the modern slavery threat and to enhance its detection in supply chains by understanding and addressing barriers to whistleblowing. A broad definition of a whistle-blower is adopted, which includes any witness internal or external to an organisation. Design/methodology/approach This is a viewpoint paper that includes using news reports and other secondary data sources on a recent modern slavery scandal in garment factories in Leicester, UK and the lens of the bystander effect from the social psychology literature. The core focus is on whistleblowing by members of the local community in which an operation or supply chain is embedded. Findings The phenomenon of modern slavery being an “open secret” within the local community is highlighted. But rather than the case being characterised by widespread whistleblowing, the problem only came into full focus when poor working conditions and forced labour during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions contributed to the spread of the virus. It is argued that overcoming this “bystander effect” can lead to the greater mobilisation of modern slavery whistleblowing. Research limitations/implications Two sets of propositions and a conceptual model are provided and seven future research suggestions are outlined, including extending the present study to whistleblowing by victims and other internal members of an organisation or supply chain. Practical implications If it can be mobilised, then whistleblowing has the potential to be an important part of detecting modern slavery, either temporarily replacing audits where they are not possible due to social distancing restrictions or directing the use of limited auditing resources to high-risk factories. In this way, combinations of practices can be effectively used to tackle the threat. Social implications This contributes to addressing an important societal problem and one of the grandest challenges facing modern-day supply chains. This, it has been argued, is an even bigger problem now than ever before given the economic and market conditions created by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Originality/value This is the first paper to focus on operationalising the practice of whistleblowing as a source of greater supply chain intelligence to aid modern slavery detection. Causes of the bystander effect include the perceived low-emergency threat of modern slavery, the high-ambiguity environment, a low bystander responsibility and low assistance/intervention incentive. Countermeasures include elevating the emergency status of modern slavery, creating a shared sense of responsibility for tackling the problem, having clear reporting channels and taking swift and consistent action when instances of modern slavery are detected.