Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said that the readymade garment industry has gone through a challenging period and has now achieved stability.
This was announced at a press conference held at Uttara BGMEA complex in Dhaka today.
In the press conference, it was said that the BGMEA board has been able to deal with the disastrous situation with the cooperation of the government, owners, workers, Bangladesh Army and law and order forces. For this, the BGMEA board expressed its gratitude to all concerned including the government and the army.
BGMEA President Khandaker Rafiqul Islam said that buyers are also trusting the garment industry of Bangladesh.
He said, ‘With the concerted efforts of the BGMEA board, under the guidance of the government, a joint force has been formed under the leadership of the army for the security of the garment factories and the joint force has regularly conducted patrols to ensure the security of the areas inhabited by garments. BGMEA has introduced community policing in collaboration with the army.
BGMEA president said that due to the uncertainty in the payment of salaries for the month of August in garment factories, a letter was sent to the honorable finance advisor seeking cooperation from BGMEA and the BGMEA board met with the governor of Bangladesh Bank. In view of the request of BGMEA, Bangladesh Bank has directed the banks to pay the salaries for the month of August.
He said that workers of 39 garment factories affected by Ashulia were unable to pay their salaries for the month of September due to labor unrest. BGMEA has requested the Ministry of Finance to provide loans to 39 garment factories on easy terms without interest for the purpose of paying salaries for the month of September.
He also said that 4 million workers in the garment industry have been brought under the TCB product sale program at fair prices. Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Labor and Employment inaugurated the TCB product sale program at a fair price for the garment industry workers on October 16.
In view of BGMEA’s request, the obligation to provide fire resistance rating for steel structural buildings in light of BNBC-2006 for garment industries has been relaxed. In the press conference, BGMEA expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.
