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November 14, 2024
Recent advancements in automation and technology are proliferating worldwide, significantly transforming sectors such as textiles, footwear, and clothing. These technologies are designed to improve environmental sustainability, productivity, and efficiency at the factory level. The textile industry is a significant sector in Bangladesh, which is among the countries using the newest technology at the factory level. However, the use of technology such as Sewbot in the textile sector is substantially impacting the sustainable lifestyles of workers. This article seeks to analyze the impact of recent technologies on the sustainable lifestyles of workers in the Bangladesh textile sector.
The fourth industrial revolution is now under progress and is experiencing a number of changes. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, and robots are gradually being integrated into manufacturing processes worldwide (Rumi et al. 2021). These significant advancements in industrial processes would adversely affect the employment rate and the economy of Bangladesh. The automation has resulted in a diminished need for labor in the textile, or ready-made garments (RMG), industry, rendering the future of RMG workers precarious (Ehsan 2021). The use of such equipment in the production processes of this sector is more likely to adversely affect semi-skilled and unskilled labor compared to skilled labor. The ready-made garments (RMG) industry is recognized as a significant source of manufacturing jobs in this country. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the a2i project of the government, approximately sixty percent, or 5.38 million workers in Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) sector, are projected to become unemployed by the end of 2030 due to automation and the subsequent replacement by robots.
Software Automation Inc. of Atlanta has introduced their fully autonomous equipment, Sewbot, which has the potential to transform conventional sewing practices in the textile industry and change the $100 billion sewing business. Formally debuted in 2012, Sewbots were developed as automated, sophisticated technology designed to reduce overall costs and improve productivity within the industry. Software Automation Inc. claims that their Sewbot can increase efficiency by 150 percent for certain sewing processes. This is a significant technology or automation that has impacted the employment rate in Bangladesh's textile sector.
Bangladesh is a developing nation renowned for its substantial supply of cheap labor. The textile industry in this nation has significantly contributed to enhancing the overall economy. This industry has generated many job possibilities nationwide, decreased the number of individuals living in adverse conditions or poverty, and promoted women's empowerment. Consequently, it can be said that the textile or garment industry was the primary factor contributing to the increase in female labor participation in the country (Raihan and Bidisha 2018). The primary difficulty the country confronts is the significant proportion of workers in the RMG business who are unskilled. Consequently, unskilled workers are losing employment as the need for expert labor increases owing to automation in the business.
Bangladesh is recognized as the second biggest exporter of textiles and garments worldwide, with the garment sector providing employment for over 4 million people (Uddin et al. 2020). The government lacks the capacity to transition workers from the clothing industry to other sectors. Furthermore, the government is unable to provide an adequate number of employment for people displaced by automation. Despite the substantial surplus labor population in the country, technological advancements have mostly made automation more efficient and profitable for enterprises. Textile firms in this country are now prioritizing the integration of automated technology in their production processes. Nonetheless, automation will impact different countries variably, depending on their respective stages of development. Furthermore, in a country such as Bangladesh, it is noted that additional time is necessary for the RMG sector to achieve complete automation, and substantial expenditures are associated with this process (Ahmed, Saha and Haque 2020). Fourteen processes are typically involved in converting cloth into ready-made garments. Technological advancement has facilitated automation in almost every phase of garment production, hence reducing reliance on labor. Furthermore, the technological revolution throughout the whole value chain presents specific issues that must be addressed during the manufacturing process.
Automation in the RMG sector is advancing, and the government must use this automation to elevate the textile industry; yet, the nation must confront some unavoidable problems alongside the potential presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This automation has significant job ramifications. This automation may have a reciprocal impact on this country. Automation may result in employment reductions and layoffs as labor is successfully replaced by robots and technology. This suggests that the nation may see significant unemployment challenges, since this industry is the primary source of employment in the country (Hoque et al. 2021). This sector is seen as the backbone of the country, employing about 3 million people nationwide (de Mattos et al. 2020). Consequently, the sustainable lives of these workers will be adversely impacted, thus diminishing their living standards. This finally signifies that the per capita income and the national economy would be significantly impacted. Conversely, such automation may also lead to the creation of some jobs. The machine needs expertise and supervision due to wear and tear; thus, repair work and maintenance are important. Consequently, new employment opportunities may emerge as a result of automation. Nonetheless, the employment created as a result of automation need education and expertise. Due to the scarcity of competent labor in this country, it will be rather difficult to occupy these positions. While automation enhances the quality of employment prospects in this industry, the overall number of jobs will decrease and may not be appropriate for all job seekers (Alam 2021).
The preceding discussion indicates that the advancement of technology and the integration of automation in Bangladesh's textile industry have negatively impacted the livelihoods of workers, particularly those who are semi-skilled and unskilled. It is acknowledged that automation and diminished labor demand in industries pose a significant risk of firms terminating employees, particularly unskilled people. The bulk of the labor force in this industry is unskilled, rendering the lives of most workers vulnerable to technological advancements.
Ahmed, S.F., Saha, P. and Haque, S.T., 2020, June. Technology Adoption Dynamics of the Press Workers in Bangladesh. In Proceedings of the 3rd ACM SIGCAS Conference on Computing and Sustainable Societies (pp. 148-159).
Alam, S.M., 2021. Intelligent Automation System for Critical Analysis of Sewing Thread Breakage and Effects to Enhance Productivity (Doctoral dissertation, United International University, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh).
de Mattos, F.B., Eisenbraun, J., Kucera, D. and Rossi, A., 2020. Automation, employment and reshoring in the apparel industry.
Ehsan, S.M.A., 2021. Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Labor Market in Bangladesh.
Hoque, M.A., Rasiah, R., Furuoka, F. and Kumar, S., 2021. Linkages among automation, job displacement and reshoring: evidence from the Bangladeshi apparel industry. Research Journal of Textile and Apparel.
Raihan, S. and Bidisha, S.H., 2018. Female employment stagnation in Bangladesh.
Rumi, M.H., Bala, S., Shah, A.M., Sayem, M.A. and Abedin, M.M., 2021. Future Tradeoff under Fourth Industrial Revolution in Bangladesh: A Study on RMG Sector. International Journal of Social, Political and Economic Research, 8(1), pp.198-215.
Uddin, S.M.N., Gutberlet, J., Ramezani, A. and Nasiruddin, S.M., 2020. Experiencing the everyday of waste pickers: A sustainable livelihoods and health assessment in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Journal of International Development, 32(6), pp.833-853.
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