The ready-made garment (RMG) industry is the topnotch and the most prestigious industrial sector in Bangladesh. Since its establishment in the 1980s, Bangladesh’s garment industry has grown to become its main economic sector. According to the Export promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh has collected US$37.71 billion export earnings between January and November of 2024 and a 7.23% increase in the GDP, which makes a remarkable contribution within the overall economy of Bangladesh. According to LightCastle Partners there are over 4.60 million workers in the RMG sector (May,2024), majority of them are women.

Although the textile and apparel industry of Bangladesh has created its standard in home and abroad, the industry is facing significant challenges, primarily due to the limitations arising from inadequate human rights protections and insufficient risk management within factories. The gender-based violence, excessive overtime, lack of social benefits, infringement of the freedom of organization, and the right to collective bargaining are acute within the apparel industry. Apart from that the working environment is highly degrading here because of the heavy metals, microplastics, and other solid as well as liquid industrial wastes. Trade Unions have tried to address the environmental and human rights threats toward the employer and the community, but in most cases, unions frequently have limited capability.

Ashulia is the home of a growing number of vertically integrated factories, with approximately 435 factories located in the region. These factories face significant challenges related to human rights degradation and environmental risks. To address such challenges, Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS) and Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) have initiated the project. The project is funded by the German sponsors FEMNET e.V., HEJSupport, INKOTA-netzwerk and SÜDWIND-Institut.