Dhaka, March 21 -- With the majority of workers lacking formal contracts, a new international study revealed the extensive use of informal practices within readymade garment (RMG) supply chains in Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.

In Bangladesh, as many as 92% workers were found employed without any written contracts, according to the study conducted by the Asian Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA).

The rate is 90% in Pakistan and 65% in India, according to the report titled "Threaded Insecurity: The Spectrum of Informality in Garment Supply Chains."

These informal working arrangements make it cheaper for employers to hire workers, who often receive lower wages and lack essential benefits like health care or paid leave, according to the report. ...