Dhaka, May 21 (UNB)- Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Rubana Huq on Tuesday urged workers’ leaders to refrain from complaining about internal problems to foreigners. 

“Foreign buyers don’t increase the rate even though our production cost has increased immensely. If you complain to buyers than they get a chance to bargain and reduce prices,” she told a roundtable on national budget at Jatiya Press Club.

Rubana said the owners should be united. “But sadly, we aren’t and that’s a barrier to the industry’s development,” she said. 

The BGMEA chief said that the organisation will take all initiatives if the workers inform it of their demands first.

“The welfare of the workers means the industry’s wellbeing. Don’t create any violence. I’m with you,” she said.

Centre for Policy Dialogue Research Director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem demanded increasing budget allocation for workers.

“It won’t require a huge amount. Community based development is needed in the industry,” he said

Moazzem said that it is time to raise voice together for increasing prices of products.

Mahbubur Rahman Ismail, president of Bangladesh Textile Garments Workers Federation, put forth several proposals including starting ration system for workers.

“We’ve submitted our demands to the Finance Ministry. We’ll submit these to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as soon as possible,” he said.

ZM Kamrul Anam, president of Bangladesh Textile and Garments Workers League, urged the government to increase budget allocation for garment workers.
 

Dhaka, Feb 28 (UNB)- The workers of Garib and Garib Sweater Factory in Gazipur held a rally at the Jatiya Press Club on Thursday demanding unpaid wages.

They claimed the factory authorities also threatened to file cases against them. The workers sought the intervention of the government and BGMEA authorities.

National Garment Workers Federation President Amirul Haque Amin urged the factory authorities to pay the workers within the shortest possible time.

Alamgir Roni, president of Gonotantrik Garments Sramik Karmachari Federation, accused the company of harassing workers and torturing them. 

He threatened to intensify agitation if the workers are not paid and their harassment is not stopped.
 

Dhaka, Feb 17 (UNB) - Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Saturday evening accorded a reception to its members elected Members of Parliament (MPs) in the 11th national election, including new ministers.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, MP, LGRD Minister Md Tajul Islam, MP, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the PM Salman Fazlur Rahman, MP, Abdus Salam Murshedi, MP, Jahirul Haque Bhuiyan Mohon, MP, Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury, MP, and Abdul Momin Mondol, MP, from the apparel sector were present at the reception.

“It’s a great honour and pride to accord reception to the ministers and MPs who are also family members of the apparel industry,” BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman said while addressing the function held at BGMEA Complex.

He hoped that the ministers and MPs would continue to make their contributions to the development of the country and the RMG sector, said a press release.

FBCCI President M Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), former BGMEA presidents Anisur Rahman Sinha and Md Atiqul Islam, BGMEA First Vice President Moinuddin Ahmed, Senior Vice President Faruque Hassan, Vice President SM Mannan (Kochi), Vice President (Finance) Mohammed Nasir and Directors of BGMEA were also present.

Dhaka, Dec 15 (UNB) – Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Siddiqur Rahman on Saturday called upon the garment workers not to be misguided by the rumours spread by conspirators.

He also requested them to return to their respective workplaces at a press conference arranged by the organization on current labour situation of the RMG industry at BGMEA Bhaban in the city.

Mentioning that some factories in Ashulia and Gazipur areas were closed as the workforce refrained themselves from working for the fifth consecutive day Saturday.

Siddikur Rahman said a vested quarter has been provoking the RMG workers on their wage issue to unsettle the industry centering the imminent parliamentary election. 

BGMEA chief also requested the workers of all sectors to contact with the factory authority or BGMEA instead of observing work abstention if any confusion arises regarding the new wage board. 

“Even though the industry is not fully capable, the increases in workers’ wager have been continuous since 2010 to 2018 reaching around 381 percent. Since 2013, there has been an increase of five percent every year,” said the president. 

“There has been rumour of discrimination in the new wage board saying that every grade did not get the increment. In reality, every worker will receive increment based on their post and grade. Minimum allowance for a worker has been increased to 1850 taka from 1100 taka. Workers, whose basic salary is higher than the gazette states, will also receive ten percent increase in house rent.” 

Siddikur Rahman also mentioned that the announced minimum wages will be added with the salary of December which will be paid by January 7-10. 

“There’s no reason of protesting before receiving the government proposed salary,” he added. 

He went on by saying it should be checked that nobody can create anarchy by using the workers to thwart the election. 

BGMEA chief urged the law enforcement agencies to find and take actions against the culprits who are pitting the workers and industry owners together. 

National Garments Workers Federation President Amirul Haq Amin resonated with him saying everyone will be paid the increased salary by the first week of December and the yearly increase will continue. 

He repeated BGMEA chief’s plea saying that it is the duty of everybody to maintain peaceful environment before the election. 

He insisted that the workers should discuss with the respective factory owners to resolve any issue regarding new wage board instead of stopping production. 

He also asked them to contact the workers’ federation or BGMEA if any help is needed over the issue. 

BGMEA officials and other labour union heads, among others, were present at the conference. 

Dhaka, Dec 13 (UNB) - The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety says readymade garment factories affiliated with it have made remarkable headway in improving safety over the last five years.

“Maintaining this progress must remain an ongoing effort-and for our member brands, it will remain a top priority long beyond the Alliance’s departure,” Alliance Executive Director Jim Moriarty was quoted as saying in a statement released on Thursday.

Alliance unveiled its fifth and final annual report on Thursday.

US Ambassador Earl R Miller appreciated the achievement, saying Washington would continue to “strongly support” the brands’ efforts to monitor safety and empower workers in their factories.

“With this work, the Alliance has set a standard for the industry to follow in Bangladesh,” he said.

Alliance is a legally binding, five-year commitment to improve safety in Bangladeshi RMG factories, one of two signed with foreign buyers. While Alliance is maintained with North American (mostly US, Canada) buyers, the other, Accord is with European buyers.

It was organised in 2013 after the collapse of the Rana Plaza in which over 1,000 people – mostly RMG workers – were killed. The incident took place only 5 months after a deadly fire at the Tazreen Fashions garment factory left over 100 people dead.

Alliance announced the near completion of factory safety improvements as well as the full execution of its fire safety training and 24-hour worker helpline to over 1.5 million workers in Alliance-affiliated factories.

“With an ecosystem of safety now in place, the Alliance is transitioning its widely renowned training program and helpline to local partners who will continue both and expand them to additional factories throughout Bangladesh,” the media statement read.

It said most Alliance member brands planned to work through a locally-based organisation to collectively monitor safety standards, training execution and helpline promotion in the factories from which they source. Consistency in the level of safety, achieved under the Alliance, will remain a requirement of these brands.

Highlights from Alliance report

-- 93 percent remediation across Alliance-affiliated factories is complete;

-- 428 factories completed all material items in their initial Corrective Action Plans;

-- Nearly 1.6 million workers have been trained to protect themselves in case of a fire emergency. Alliance has developed local training partners to expand the training beyond Alliance-affiliated factories;

-- 28,000 security guards have been trained in fire safety and emergency evacuation procedures;

-- More than 1.5 million workers now have access to a 24-hour confidential helpline. It will soon be available to RMG factories throughout Bangladesh;

-- 181 worker safety committees have been formed