Mending Violence Against Workers in the Bangladesh Garment Industry: An Anti-Capitalist Perspective on Fabrications of "Improving" Labor Conditions

The note examines the failure of neoliberal reforms in addressing labor exploitation in Bangladesh's garment industry following the 2013 Rana Plaza Collapse. It critiques initiatives like the Accord and Alliance for their limited scope and lack of enforceability, highlighting how they fail to address systemic issues such as low wages and gender-based violence. The analysis also points to the ineffectiveness of corporate codes of conduct and legal frameworks, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive, worker-centered approach. The author advocates for community unionism and stronger legal protections, arguing that systemic change is necessary to empower workers and end exploitation.