Exploring the Role of Social Work in Empowering Garment Workers in Developing Economies

The global garment sector—employing tens of millions of mostly female workers—is a major economic engine in many developing economies (e.g. Bangladesh, India, Cambodia) but is marked by exploitation, low wages, and unsafe working conditions. This paper examines how social work practices can empower garment workers by addressing labor rights, gender equality, and psychosocial needs. Using a qualitative approach (literature review and illustrative case studies), we identify key areas where social work interventions have made an impact: educating workers about labor rights, advocating for policy reform, facilitating community support and leadership development, and providing mental health and legal aid. We find that social work strategies—such as community organizing, rights education, and skills training—can enhance workers’ agency in demanding better pay, safer workplaces, and greater gender. Despite persistent barriers (weak law enforcement, corporate resistance, internalized oppression), examples from Bangladesh (post–Rana Plaza safety accords), India (worker cooperatives like SEWA), and Cambodia (NGAO-led empowerment programs) show promising results. These findings imply that integrating social workers into labor movement coalitions and institutional policy-making is critical for sustainable improvements in garment workers’ lives. The paper concludes with recommendations for targeted labor policy reforms, worker education programs, and cross-sector collaboration.

social work; garment industry; empowerment; labor rights

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