In Bangladesh, the world's second-largest garment exporter, a worker making a $2-$3 cotton T-shirt for the EU earns a minimum monthly wage of just $113. Seriously, can you imagine? That's less than a quarter of the $460 needed to live, trapping millions in poverty, according to economicsobservatory. This is the unsettling paradox: Bangladesh's garment industry is a global economic giant, fueling national growth, but its success is built on the exploitation of millions. The Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector contributes 11% to Bangladesh’s GDP and over 84% of national export earnings, reports The Daily Star. With 4.2 million workers, 60% of them women, this immense workforce is the nation's economic engine. Yet, this robust economic trajectory, projected to grow through 2026, will likely face increasing scrutiny and pressure for wage reform as global awareness of worker exploitation grows.
The Human Cost of Cheap Fashion
Bangladeshi garment workers earn a minimum monthly wage of 12,500 taka, roughly $113. That's a far cry from the estimated $460 per month needed for a living wage, according to economicsobservatory. Meanwhile, over 61% of cotton T-shirts imported into the EU come from Bangladesh, sourced for a mere $2 to $3 each, reports WWD. Global fashion brands directly profit from this labor model, perpetuating a system that pays workers less than a quarter of a living wage. Suddenly, that bargain basement price tag doesn't look so good, does it?
The Global Price Race
In 2025, the average EU import price for textiles hit $16 per kilogram. But from Bangladesh? Just $13 per kilogram, according to WWD. This cost advantage makes Bangladesh irresistible to international buyers, securing approximately 6.5% of the global apparel market share, reports The Daily Star. The catch? This relentless pressure for low production costs directly crushes worker wages and living standards. The immense profitability for EU importers buying $2-$3 T-shirts stands in stark contrast to the poverty wages of Bangladeshi workers.
