Enhancing health and hygiene standards to boost worker safety in Bangladesh's garment industry: A mixed-methods approach

Abstract This study examines the adequacy and implementation of health and hygiene regulations under the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 (BLA 2006) in the garment supply chain, with reference to relevant International Labour Organization (ILO) standards. Beyond regulatory compliance, the research considers the ethical implications of workplace governance, particularly how legal implementation relates to workers’ dignity, moral responsibility, and expectations of ethical business conduct in global supply chains. The study is grounded in socio-legal theory, drawing on the distinction between Law-in-Books and Law-in-Action and Sally Falk Moore’s concept of Semi-Autonomous Social Fields (SASF) to examine how formal rules interact with workplace practices. Using a mixed-methods design, the research combines doctrinal legal analysis with empirical data from garment workers’ surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews with industry representatives and regulatory officials. The analysis indicates that several provisions of BLA 2006 remain limited when compared with ILO benchmarks and that implementation varies across factories. Survey responses also suggest an association between perceived compliance and worker satisfaction. These findings highlight the ethical importance of aligning legal compliance with commitments to worker dignity and responsible labour governance.