Nearly 20,000 garment workers in Bangladesh were laid off in the first half of 2026, according to data from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. The BGMEA reported that 80 of its member factories retrenched or dismissed 19,188 workers, with 27 of those factories closing permanently. Industrial Police figures showed 79 factories across eight industrial zones laid off 7,784 workers in the first five months of the year, with the highest numbers in March and May. Factory owners cited declining export orders and banking restrictions, while labour leaders argued some dismissals targeted union-organising workers.