The Maternity Leave and Cash Benefit Payment System for Readymade Garment (RMG) Sector of Bangladesh

Abstract

Maternity leave means the period of paid absence from work. This type of leave is allowed to a mother before and after the birth of a child. Naturally, the term maternity benefit is applied in case of working women. Mostly, it is related to readymade garment (RDM). It indicates the payment made to a woman for giving birth of a child. The duration of maternity leave for female worker in RMG sector of Bangladesh is 4 months (16 weeks) according to Labor Act 2006. The purpose of this study is to show the application of RMG sector’s maternity leave and to assess the level of cash benefit payment for maternity leave. The main purpose of this study is to show the discrimination between two kinds of factories (foreign owned and local owned) about the proper application of rules and Act. The information collected from those who are experienced to take maternity leave and recently take the leave and also who are preparing for the leave. Frequency distribution has been used on the data extracted from female worker who have experience maternity leave and cash benefit payment. The result of this study is that there are two kinds of RMG sectors situations: one is called foreigner owned factory and another one is Bangali factory (local owner).Evidently, 60% get the cash payment with two terms before & after child born and 100% get the maternity leave. So, this paper will discuss about the differences of facilities, job security, cash payment, others opportunities for female in RMG sector.