Migrants, Experience, and Working Conditions in Bangladeshi Garment Factories

87 Pages Posted: 26 Mar 2022

See all articles by Rachel Heath

Rachel Heath

University of Washington

Laura Boudreau

Columbia University; Columbia University - Columbia Business School, Economics; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Tyler McCormick

University of Washington

Abstract

Working conditions in many large factories in low income countries are difficult, and many workers are internal migrants from rural areas. We examine the relationship between workers’ migration status and their labor market outcomes, using a household survey of garment workers in Bangladesh. Migrants are in firms with higher wages but worse working conditions, but as their careers progress, they have higher mobility than locals as they move towards firms with better conditions. These facts are consistent with a model in which migrants are poorly informed about working conditions upon beginning work but learn more as they gain experience in the industry.

Keywords: migration, Turnover, Working Conditions, Safety, Garment Industry, Bangladesh

Suggested Citation

Heath, Rachel and Boudreau, Laura and McCormick, Tyler, Migrants, Experience, and Working Conditions in Bangladeshi Garment Factories. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4067206 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4067206

Rachel Heath (Contact Author)

University of Washington ( email )

Seattle, WA 98195
United States

Laura Boudreau

Columbia University ( email )

Columbia University - Columbia Business School, Economics ( email )

420 West 118th Street
New York, NY 10027
United States

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) ( email )

London
United Kingdom

Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD) ( email )

Duke University
Durham, NC 90097
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Tyler McCormick

University of Washington ( email )

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