The Impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on Female Workers in the Ready-made Garments and Textile Industry, Bangladesh.

This article examines the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) on female workers in Bangladesh's Ready-made Garments (RMG) and textile industries, highlighting challenges such as job displacement due to automation, skill obsolescence, and limited access to reskilling opportunities. Using qualitative data from interviews with female employees, industry stakeholders, and experts, the study finds that many female workers face heightened risks of unemployment, especially in low-skilled roles, compounded by gender discrimination and wage disparities. The research emphasizes the critical need for government and industry-led policies focused on vocational training, digital literacy, social protection, and infrastructure development to support female workers’ adaptation to 4IR technologies. It also discusses the broader socioeconomic implications, including the vulnerability of small factories and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, while recommending strategic short- and long-term interventions to foster inclusive, sustainable growth as Bangladesh transitions toward the emerging Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR).