Footwear & Leathergoods Sector

The Footwear and Leather Goods sector is one of Bangladesh’s priority export industries and the country’s second-largest export-oriented manufacturing sector after ready-made garments. The industry employs approximately 850,000 workers, with women accounting for around 60% of the workforce. In 2024, exports from the sector reached approximately USD 1.5 billion, driven by strong growth in both leather and non-leather footwear products. Bangladesh is also among the world's leading footwear producers and benefits from a strong domestic supply of raw materials and high value addition.

As a labour-intensive industry, workers in the footwear and leather goods sector face occupational risks that can lead to injury, disability, or loss of income. Strengthening employment injury protection is therefore essential to ensuring decent work and sustainable industrial growth. The Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) Pilot contributes to this objective by promoting income security and social protection for workers and their families in Bangladesh’s export-oriented industries.