The garment industry in Bangladesh has played a significant role in economically uplifting a large cohort of poor and vulnerable women. The opportunity to be gainfully employed has served as a repellent against early marriage and in turn reductions in fertility. Control over income also provides the women with more decision making power at home, voice in the social sphere and self-esteem. Today, approximately 80 percent of garment workers are women. Yet, the number of poor women from impoverished northwestern districts joining the garments sector is much lower than the number of poor women from other parts of the country. Research has shown that this is in large part due to lack of awareness, the perceived and real risks regarding migration, uncertainty about securing a job quickly. One of the main risks cited was of finding safe and reasonably priced housing upon arrival to urban centres, in the absence of existing networks.

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