2 clothing factories in Bangladesh a comparison
What is the difference between a well-regulated factory and a sweatshop?
Definition of sweatshop: A shop or factory in which employees work for long hours at very low wages and under
Describe what the building is like
What is the age of the building?
How many workers are there?
Describe the health and safety
conditions (fire safety etc)
Describe the working conditions for
the workers in each of these two
factories
unhealthy conditions.
Factory 1 Rizvi Fashions
A well-regulated factory
The factory was a six-story building
on the road to Savar constructed in
2014. The inside was good, clean
and secure with bright lights and
wall long windows which allowed
the sun to pour in. The Wiring was
insulated and encased. There were
fire alarms, emergency floodlights
and signs, shelves of fire
extinguishers and safety equipment.
The factory is closed at night and
every Friday, the Muslim holy day
It housed 2000 workers
The safety is good for a factory.
There were fire alarms, emergency
floodlights and signs, shelves of fire
extinguishers and safety equipment;
monthly fire drills and fire safety
teams in yellow vests. One fifth of
the workforce had special training.
The working conditions were great
due to having a canteen where
workers could buy drinks and
sandwiches at cost. Also there was a
health centre and day-care for
workers’ children. The factory is
closed at night and every Friday, the
Muslim holy day.
Factory 2
A sweat shop factory
The factory was built in the early
2000s and was located in a filthy
old backstreet. The workers
described it as it looking twice as
old and said all the furniture was
old, and the chairs had stuffing
spilling out of the side. There were
even people working there at the
age of 13!!! The stairwell was partly
blocked by big cardboard boxes of
clothes and the walls list safety
compliance notices. Fire buckets
are filled with rubbish rather than
water. The sewing room was very
dark with weak lighting too
More than 100 workers sewed
The safety was bad. No one wore
face masks despite the “Safety
First, wear a mask” signs stuck to
the wall. Wiring was exposed and
most windows were brocken.
The working conditions were very
low. It is described as unbearably
hot-more than 100 degrees. Small
fans blow dust around but doesn’t
cool the room at all
Which factory would you rather
work in and why?
Factory one because I would be paid
well, the working conditions are
great and it has a day-care for my
children so when my wife is at work
they can be there.
Additional information
Factory one because I would be
paid well, the working conditions
are great and it has a day-care for
my children so when my wife is at
work they can be there.