Garment workers in Asia are facing destitution in the wake of COVID-19 epidemic. Factories are closing in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Albania and across Central America. The situation for garment workers in Cambodia and Myanmar is already dire. Some factories are said to have already sacked workers without pay. Many workers cannot afford to live on their normal salaries and are therefore in high levels of debt; they are now likely to default on their loans. Factories in garment-producing countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam are about to close due to a shortage of raw materials from China and declining orders from western clothing brands.

Millions of workers in supply chains are likely to fall into crippling poverty as they lose their jobs and struggle to provide for their families. Poverty wages, unsafe and unsanitary workplaces and poor health already make the garment workforce highly vulnerable to the worst effects of the virus.

It is doubtful garment workers would be able to save enough from their salaries to have funds to fall back on if they lose their jobs or are unable to go into work. Many of these workers live in countries where labor laws and protections are not upheld.