The garment industry in Bangladesh, which makes up 84% of the country's exports and ranks second in the world, has been hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with at least a million workers let go by early April, roughly a quarter of the country's garment workforce. Sewing workers were declared essential workers, but many factories chose to close due to decreased global demand and infection fears. While the country has received multiple forms of aid and has been re-opening many factories, workers continue to struggle as global demand is still low, working conditions still crowded, and wages have often been cut, leading to hardships for workers who are returning to work after not having had unemployment benefits.
See "Poverty and hunger bigger concern than Covid-19 for garment workers in Bangladesh", Lauren Frayer, NPR, June 8, 2020