Between Tradition and Survival: My Journey with MNCs by Saniya Mirza

Between Tradition and Survival: My Journey with MNCs

saniyamirza — 2025-05-08 23:47:12 UTC

I’m Ayesha, a 22-year-old garment worker living in Dhaka, Bangladesh. My job at the factory began when I was only 16. I remember my first day vividly, bright lights, the buzz of machines, and my fingers trembling as I sewed my first batch of shirts tagged “Made for H&M.” I didn’t know then that this multinational brand would shape not just my life, but the entire rhythm of our community.

Positive Impact: Job Creation and Economic Opportunity

saniyamirza — 2025-05-08 23:50:32 UTC

Before the H&M factory opened in our area, my father worked odd jobs, and our family often skipped meals. The arrival of MNCs like H&M brought jobs, lots of them. Today, our local factory employs over 2,000 people. Thanks to my income, my younger siblings go to school, and we finally repaired our leaking roof. According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the garment industry fueled largely by MNCs, employs more than 4 million workers and makes up over 80% of Bangladesh's export revenue (BGMEA, 2023).

Negative Impact: Exploitation and Unsafe Conditions

saniyamirza — 2025-05-08 23:51:34 UTC

But not everything glitters. In 2013, the Rana Plaza factory collapse killed over 1,100 workers. I wasn’t there, but my cousin was. She died under that rubble sewing clothes for another MNC. After that, we all feared going back to work. H&M promised reforms, and some improvements came like inspections and fire exits. Still, we often work 10-12 hour shifts with just two short breaks. My hands ache, my back screams, but the pay around $95 a month which barely covers food and rent (Clean Clothes Campaign, 2022)

Mixed Impact: Cultural Change and Community Disruption

saniyamirza — 2025-05-08 23:56:58 UTC

The steady money means I can buy things I never dreamed of, phones, clothes, even small gold earrings. But with it came pressure. Young girls want “modern” lives now. Many leave rural homes to work in factories and lose touch with tradition. Our elders worry. Festivals feel smaller. Family dinners feel quieter. I sometimes miss the village life where time was slow and stories were passed down over warm tea.

🔍 Explore More / Credits

saniyamirza — 2025-05-08 23:58:50 UTC

BBC News. (2013, May 10). Bangladesh factory collapse toll passes 1,000. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-22476774

Clean Clothes campaign. (2020, August 6). Clean Clothes Campaign. https://cleanclothes.org/livingwage/asia/bangladesh

BGMEA | About Garment industry of Bangladesh. (n.d.). https://www.bgmea.com.bd/page/AboutGarmentsIndustry

The New York Times. (2014, April 15). Rana Plaza Collapse Documentary: The Deadly Cost of Fashion | Op-Docs | The New York Times [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fkhzdc4ybw

Begum, T., & Ahmed, R. (2023, November 20). Bangladesh garment workers fighting for pay face brutal violence and threats. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/nov/15/bangladesh-garment-workers-fighting-for-pay-face-brutal-violence-and-threats

Chan, E. (2021, April 19). 8 years after the Rana Plaza disaster, we still aren’t doing enough to protect garment workers. Vogue. https://www.vogue.com/article/garment-worker-rights-protection-eight-years-after-rana-plaza

Hasnat, S. (2023, November 8). Wage hike fails to appease protesting garment workers in Bangladesh. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/08/world/asia/bangladesh-minimum-wage-protests.html

Gopal, A. (2023, July 20). H&M Foundation backs women garment workers in Bangladesh. H&M Group. https://hmgroup.com/news/hm-foundation-backs-women-garment-workers-in-bangladesh/

South China Morning Post. (2023, November 4). Bangladesh garment workers who make clothes for The Gap, Walmart, H&M, Zara clash with police as factories reopen. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3240346/bangladesh-garment-workers-employed-gap-walmart-hm-zara-clash-police-factories-reopen

SOMO. (2023, July 10). Garment brands contribute to low wages, long working hours, child labour and school dropouts in Bangladesh. https://www.somo.nl/garment-brands-contribute-low-wages-long-working-hours-child-labour-school-dropouts-bangladesh/

Doyle, M. (2023, July 6). Why H&M, Zara & Tommy Should Sign the Accord? Workers Have Died. Remake. https://remake.world/stories/news/one-compelling-reason-why-hm-zara-tommy-should-sign-the-accord-theyve-all-had-garment-workers-die-while-sewing-for-them/

For your own discretion, stop at 0:50 into the video

saniyamirza — 2025-05-09 00:04:31 UTC

This is just a small peak of the damages to the people, town, community and more.

Conclusion

saniyamirza — 2025-05-09 00:05:47 UTC

Working for an MNC has given me both hope and hardship. I no longer worry if my family will eat, but I constantly worry if I will get hurt, sick, or exploited. The truth is MNCs are not fully heroes or villains in our story. They bring opportunity, but it must come with accountability. We stitch your clothes. We deserve dignity stitched into every seam.