The Cost of Motherhood: Maternity Entitlements and Barriers in the Jute Industry of Bangladesh

This study examines the challenges faced by women workers in accessing maternity entitlements within Bangladesh’s jute industry. It explores the gap between formal maternity rights and their practical implementation, focusing on barriers such as limited awareness, inadequate workplace facilities, financial insecurity, job-related discrimination, and weak institutional support. Particular attention is given to how employment conditions and organisational practices shape women workers’ experiences of pregnancy, maternity leave, childcare, and return to work. The study highlights the intersection of gender inequality, labour rights, and workplace vulnerability, offering insights into the need for stronger maternity protection, effective policy enforcement, and gender-responsive employment practices in the jute sector.

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