A Study of Socio-Economic Status of Workers in the Unorganized Powerloom Sector of Sirajganj

Abstract

The mechanical loom industry is a weaving sector and an important segment of the
disseminate cotton textile industry in Bangladesh. This industry as a tool of small and
medium enterprise has a greatest possibility to contribute a lot in the cloth production of
Bangladesh. Power loom industries are functioning the middle level work in the cloth
production. This industry generates a number of employment opportunities. Further, the
industry contributes a lot of revenues to the government exchequer. Present study is
concerned to represent the overall socio- economic status of workers who are engaged in
powerloom in some selected area of Sirajganj district. This study is based on both primary
and secondary data sources in order to understand the socio-economic status of workers.
Primary data has been collected by observational study and randomly selected 50
weavers in Sirajganj district. Secondary data for the study has been collected from the
government publications, journals, handloom census of Bangladesh, website etc. There is
a lot of problems of the powerloom industry &workers in Sirajganj. Authors have identified
those prominent factors that are moving the wheels of this industry slowly. Among them
shortage of working capital, high cost of raw materials, inadequate supply of electricity,
lack of policy support is bitterly hit the powerloom industry. Until and unless these
problems are solved, the overall heightening of the corporation as well as the worker’s
living conditions cannot be achieved. But according to the results, most of the weavers
think that if those problems are solved, this profession plays a positive role in improving
their socio-economic conditions by their health and better education of their children.