Bangladesh

Bangladesh, technically the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a South Asian country. It is the eighth-most populous nation on the planet. Bangladesh ranks second in apparel imports to the Unites States and is the top apparel supplier for the UK.

With a population of more than 170 million, Bangladesh is on the top manufacturing countries in the world, with a particular strength in textiles and apparel.

The country’s minimum wage was revised in January to 12,500 Bangladeshi taka ($114) a month, a 56 percent uptick from the previous 8,000 taka ($73).

Bangladesh produces garments for a wide array of global brands including Walmart, H&M, Nike, Zara, Adidas, VF, PVH and American Eagle.

The nation was thrust into the international spotlight in April of 2013 in the wake of the Rana Plaza factory collapse that saw 1,134 garment workers lose their lives. This served as a turning point and brought about the creation of two key entities: the Accord on Factory and Building Safety in Bangladesh and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety.

European nameplates like H&M Group and Zara owner Inditex rushed to create the Accord for Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, a legally binding agreement, devised with the aid of labor organizations, that would hold them accountable for the inspection and remediation of fire, electrical and structural hazards. Gap Inc.,Walmart and other mostly North American companies formed the Alliance for Bangladesh worker safety to operate on a parallel track.

Both of these entities still exist and continue their work in Bangladesh.

The key industry group in the country is the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) representing the readymade garment industry, particularly the woven garments, knitwear and sweater sub-sectors with equal importance.

The BGMEA collaborates with local and international stakeholders, including brands and development partners to pave the way for development of Bangladesh apparel industry. Currently, BGMEA has around four thousand registered garment factories.