Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), has contributed a chapter to the book ‘South Asia’s Transition from Agrarian to Industrialized Economy: The Employment and Labor Market,’ edited by Kazuo Tomozawa and Koichi Fujita. The book addresses significant shifts in employment and labour markets as South Asian economies transition from agrarian to industrial bases.
In his chapter titled ‘Can Bangladesh’s Export-Oriented Readymade Garments (RMG) Enterprises Sustain Their Social Upgrading Without Economic Upgrading?’, Dr Moazzem investigates whether social improvements in Bangladesh’s RMG sector can persist without parallel economic advancements. His research focuses on the nature and extent of both social and economic upgrading in RMG enterprises following the Rana Plaza disaster. The findings explore the relationship between these two dimensions of upgrading.
A key insight from the study is that institution-driven social upgrading post-Rana Plaza has not yet naturally aligned with economic upgrading. This has resulted in an unbalanced progress, particularly neglecting economic and technological advancements in small and medium enterprises. Such imbalance could potentially limit the positive impact on the overall competitiveness of firms, especially those lagging behind. Consequently,
Dr Moazzem suggests that RMG enterprises should commit to substantial investments in economic upgrading, including modern machinery, design and product development, new departments, non-cotton textiles, and the enhancement of IT-based merchandising and marketing capabilities.
Publication Period: December 2024