I will admit with shame that I do own a piece of garment Made in Bangladesh. It was also purchased in one of the East Indian run clothes stores with low quality, albeit very cheap clothes available. It’s a pair of pants I bought there and feel ashamed now that I’ve looked up the info on child labor in Bangladesh. My cheap pants came at a cost. At a cost higher than I’m willing to admit. It’s too late to undo my actions now, but I know I won’t be buying any cheap merchandise that’s Made in Bangladesh as it comes covered with sweat and tears of small children who whose cheap labor was used to produce the item.

According to International Labor Organization, there are 4.9 million working children aged between 5 and 14 years in Bangladesh. That represents 14.2 % of all children in that age group. Illiteracy rate of this age group is 36.4 %. Percentagewise it may not seem that bad, but that’s because total population of Bangladesh is over 155 million. Total numbers of child laborers are shocking. There are millions of children as young as 5 year old that are used as cheap labor in Bangladesh.

These are some shocking facts that prove child labor in Bangladesh is a serious international problem. I don’t think boycotting Made in Bangladesh products will help this situation much, though as poverty is already bad enough there. Some involvement of their government is needed, better child labor laws must be introduced and the policy must be enforced. Education and healthcare must be provided as it’s more difficult to abuse educated population. Or perhaps some companies could step up and allow for independent audits that would grant them with certification that their products are child labor free. I would support Made in Bangladesh merchandise if it came with reliable badge approving the items as child labor free. Support impoverished regions, but battle child labor.

Gallery of shocking pictures of Bangladesh child labor is below:

Further Reading:

• 6000 Rare Irrawaddy Dolphins Found in Bangladesh