Interview with Prof. Elke Schüßler – “Working Conditions in the Clothing Industry in Bangladesh”

In a podcast conversation, Elke Schüßler, Professor of Business Administration with a focus on Entrepreneurship and Organization at Leuphana University Lüneburg, talks about working conditions in the textile industry in export-oriented countries such as Bangladesh. Also joining the discussion is Lena Gruber, an expert from Südwind, an organization committed to global justice.

Fast-fashion brands such as Zara, H&M, and Mango, discount retailers like KiK and Lidl, as well as higher-end labels including Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and Lacoste, all have their products manufactured in Bangladesh. The reason is simple: wages are extremely low. Between 3.5 and 4 million people work in around 3,500 textile factories — often under precarious conditions and for very little pay.

Using examples from the global fashion industry, the discussion explores why fair wages and safe working conditions remain rare. It raises central questions: Who bears responsibility for improving labor standards — companies, suppliers, or policymakers? How can sustainable and fair production be reconciled with economic success? And what has changed since the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in 2013?

The interview was conducted in connection with Schüßler’s research on global value chains and offers insights into the social and ecological dynamics of textile production.

Listen to the conversation in German here.