Dhaka, Nov. 28 -- Global fashion brands are thriving on the exploitation of a vast low-paid and unpaid workforce -- mostly women -- across the South Asian garment supply chain, including Bangladesh, according to two reports released by Amnesty International.

The reports, published on Thursday, stated that millions of garment workers, most of whom are women, are trapped in a cycle of silence, intimidation and poverty while brands, factory owners and governments maintain what it calls an "unholy alliance".

The findings came from these reports titled 'Stitched Up: Denial of Freedom of Association for Garment Workers in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka' and 'Abandoned by Fashion: The urgent need for fashion brands to champion worke...