Gender implications of future of work in South Asia: The challenges of technological change and climate transition in garment manufacturing in Bangladesh and India

Introduction: The garment sector in South Asia, especially in Bangladesh and India, faces dual pressures from rapid technological change and the global shift toward sustainable production. Automation and AI are transforming key processes such as cutting, sewing, and finishing, leading to job displacement, particularly among women concentrated in routine roles. In Bangladesh, women’s participation in the ready-made garment workforce is already declining due to automation, while in India similar disruptions are anticipated as digital technologies spread. At the same time, global market demands for Net Zero emissions are pushing manufacturers to adopt renewable energy, circular production, and sustainable materials. These transitions, while necessary, involve high costs that pose challenges for small and medium enterprises. Their gendered impacts remain underexplored but risk deepening vulnerabilities for women workers already facing limited access to skills and resources. Together, these technological and environmental shifts threaten employment security and equity in the garment industry, with women, youth, and migrant workers most at risk. Project Director/s: /Research Team Prof. Balwant S Mehta, Prof. Alakh N. Sharma, Prof. Dev Nathan, Dr. Deeksha Tayal, Ms. Priyanka Tyagi, and Ms. Varsha S. Mathew. Sponsor: Lirnasia Status: Ongoing. However, they also offer an opportunity to build a more inclusive, skill-oriented, and climate-resilient sector—if policies prioritise gender-responsive training, social protection, and workplace reforms. There is an urgent need for evidence-based strategies to ensure that the future of work in this sector supports a just and equitable transition.

Aims and objectives:

• To explore how the evolving landscape of work, driven by digital technologies and climate transition imperatives, is impacting employment in Bangladesh’s and India’s garment manufacturing sectors.
• To examine the implications of these transitions for women, youth, and other marginalized workers, who make up a significant share of the workforce in these industries.
• To place a central focus on gender equality and inclusion, ensuring that the analysis highlights differential impacts across groups.
• To generate evidence-based insights that can inform policies and strategies for building more inclusive and resilient garment sector employment.

Methodology: The study employs the Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) framework to collect and analyse qualitative and quantitative data through field surveys and secondary sources.

Updates: Based on the study’s six core research questions, SANEM and IHD have jointly prepared an outline for developing working papers and policy briefs. So far, three draft working papers have been prepared. The papers were presented by Dr Selim Raihan, Project Lead and Dr Balwant Mehta, Project Co-Lead, in the In-person Meeting held in Negombo, Sri Lanka, from 20-22 August 2025. The draft survey instruments, methodology and sampling framework have been prepared, pilot tested in the field, and revised based on feedback