How Bangladesh’s Toxic Leather Industry Is Poisoning People And Rivers | Risky Business

The Bangladesh economy relies heavily on its leather sector, which employs nearly a million people. But the industry is also poisoning many of them. We followed a worker to see how he's risking his life and barely getting by.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction
00:57 - How Hides Get Turned Into Leather
02:56 - Child Labor
03:28 - The Health Risks
05:11 - How Hides Are Tanned
05:50 - How Workers Get Paid
07:07 - The Industry’s Environmental Impact
08:28 - The Industry’s Economic Impact
09:06 - What Comes Next For Leather Workers
10:27 - Credits

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How Bangladesh's $1.2 Billion Leather Industry Became So Deadly | Risky Business | Insider News

[juliahelaschorr]

90% dead before fifty is a crazy number for survival odds in such a big industry central to the country's economy

[alusique]

It's like seeing Industrial Revolution from history textbooks with our own eyes. Workers are just underpaid disposable force. The environment is just a space to be exploited dumped with residues. All that matters are the profits for the factory owners and it's shareholders.

[kennethmc]

My favorite part was the sign that said "no mask, no entry" and a guy walking right by it with no mask.

[paradoxalJohn]

Now, this is journalism. Thank you, Insider News.

[chrisc]

It doesn't smell as bad as you think... it smells worse.

[bakerkawesa]

When you're getting cheap consumer goods, it's easy to look the other way.

[ilovewatchingvideos]

As a Bangladeshi, it is sad to see such things. I've seen tanneries with my own eyes when I went to school. The smell is indeed awful but they moved away a few years ago. Its a necessary evil as it is an income source for many who don't know about any other occupation. I can only hope, the workers can get the required gloves, equipments & medical needs to prevent themselves from getting cancers. Indeed, it would be a treacherous journey for improving their poor living standards.

[RandomGuy-nmbm]

90 cents for transport and they cant afford it, this realy opened my eyes

[TomJerry-ctly]

I am sure that this person (who is giving interview) will be fired by his boss for revealing their misdeeds to everyone.... I hope channel has given him enough money to compensate...😢

[asha]

Bangladesh has an arsenic problem in its groundwater and now they are dumping more chemicals into this precious resource?!?

[jpz]

And I’m worried about whether or not I’m separating my recycling correctly

[mosthra]

I thought that a worker's salary of $9/day in Vietnam was low... And here they only get less than $65 a month. It's heartbreaking. 😥

[thomasthetrainful]

It's sad to see fast fashion and consumerism are the major driving forces to create the demand for such cheap raw materials. I hope the world gains more awareness that cheap raw materials are potentially the driving force for cheap unethical labour in less developed countries. While normal human beings would prefer to spend less, it is important to shop mindfully, reuse, repair, reduce purchases. Only purchases what is necessary. God bless.

[shturm]

Not so fun fact: back in the day animal brains, urine, and feces were key ingredients in making leather

[militarygeopolitics]

That formaldehyde tanning part was the most gruesome and life threatening of the whole process.

[nnitro]

Smells like corrupt politics and unscrupulous bussinessmen, they have no leash so they just do whatever they want, higher profit $$$ and human labour is cheap and plenty. Many of europe enterprisses produce in India etc. for this reason, no laws or consequences, ensalvement was abolished long ago and yet this resembles so much.

[pjacobsen]

Last comment: "So why aren't we getting the same opportunities here in Bangladesh"? Well, it's because Bangladesh is currently at an early stage of development. Before Bangladesh, other countries did the exact same work: China, Egypt and many years ago, Europe and North America. After Bangladesh moves up to the next stage of development, this dangerous work will move somewhere else.

[rahulthaware]

I am from India 🇮🇳
lot of people work very had to survive here too…
but rather than respecting it, the western media makes fun of it or shows disrespect…!!
if you make fun of such people…same conditions will come to you as Karma

[drivingaround]

Sometimes big companies contribute to such tragedies by manufacturing their products in countries like Bangladesh without ensuring the safety of workers and protection of the environment.

[sakondo]

This industry needs proper ETP and a proper working environment for workers.