RMG
Owners are free to close their garment factories until vandalism ends: BGMEA
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan on Sunday (November 12, 2023) said the owners of the RMG units can keep their factories closed under the law to protect industry and property until the vandalism is stopped and law enforcement agencies are able to ensure adequate security.
“Every entrepreneur has a constitutional right to protect his own industry and properties from outsiders,” he told a media briefing at BGMEA office at Uttara.
The BGMEA chief repeated that for the sake of the country and the industry, to protect the employment of the worker siblings, if the working brothers and sisters do not work in any factory, leave the factory without working, vandalize the factory, then the factory authorities can keep the factory closed under section 13 (1) of the Labor Act.
Garment workers’ protest: 130 factories in Ashulia, Savar, Dhamrai closed
Faruque said as there is currently less work in many factories in the garment sector, buyers have stopped placing new orders; they have asked to stop new recruitment.
“New appointments will be made when the situation improves,” said the BGMEA president.
Faruque urged the government of Bangladesh to identify those who are plotting against this industry and take action.
RMG worker injured in clash with law enforcers dies at DMCH
“Also give us adequate security to run industries. Politics and economics complement each other. Remittance earning from the expatriates is experiencing a slowdown at the moment. In this situation, the garment industry, one of the main sectors of export earnings, deserves special attention,” he said.
The government on Tuesday announced Tk 12,500 as minimum wage for entry level RMG workers, raising it by 56.25% from the existing one.
State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian announced the new wage structure for RMG workers which will be effective from December 1.
RMG workers unions have rejected the offer and instead asked for an increase of nearly Tk 23,000 a month. Many workers resorted to street protests clashing with police and vandalizing factories.
Owners have announced indefinite shutdown of over 130 factories mainly in Gazipur and Ashulia areas.
Govt announces Tk 12,500 as minimum salary for RMG workers
The unrest for higher wage has left one female worker dead in police firing, dozens injured and arrested.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Industrial Police Md Zakir Hossain Khan on Saturday said they smell a rat behind the unrest in the readymade garment (RMG) industry in Gazipur.
"The government has already announced wages and our notion is that a group is instigating them [RMG workers] to do movement. We are identifying those who are provoking them [demonstrating workers]," he said.
Police use tear gas shells as RMG workers protest in Gazipur
Clash with police leaves female garment worker dead in Gazipur
A female garment worker was killed and ten were injured in a clash between police and RMG workers at Konabari in Gazipur on Wednesday (November 08, 2023).
The deceased was identified as Anjuara Khatun, 30, wife of Jamal Hossain of Sirajganj district.
Witnesses said workers of garment factories took to the streets in the morning in Konabari, demanding Tk 23,000 as the minimum salary.
Garment factories reopen in Gazipur, several hurt in clash with police
On information, police fired rubber bullets, sound grenades and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse them, triggering a clash that left eleven people injured.
The agitating garment workers claimed that Anjuara died on the way to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
Police use tear gas shells as RMG workers protest in Gazipur
Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said a female garment worker — injured in the clash — was sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
Garment workers have been demonstrating, demanding to increase their basic salary to Tk 23,000, for several days across the country.
The government of Bangladesh on Tuesday fixed Tk 12,500 as minimum salary for entry-level RMG workers.
BGB deployed to beef up security for garment factories in Dhaka, Gazipur
48 BGB platoons deployed to beef up security for garment factories in Dhaka, nearby areas
A total of 48 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) platoons have been deployed in Dhaka and adjacent areas to ensure security in garment factories.
BGB troops have been deployed in Ashulia, Savar, Mirpur, Gazipur and other parts of the country, said, Sharuiful Islam, public relations officer at BGB headquarters.
Read: 228 BGB platoons deployed to beef up security across the country amid BNP-Jamaat's 48hr blockade
Garment factory workers in Dhaka and nearby areas returned to work on Sunday after 12 days of unrest for a minimum wage of Tk 23,000.
The government on Tuesday announced Tk 12,500 as minimum salary for entry level readymade garment (RMG) factory workers, raising it by 56.25 percent from the current wage.
Read: 48hr blockade: 27 BGB platoons deployed in Dhaka, adjoining districts
RMG worker dies in Gazipur during protest demanding salary hike
An RMG worker died today during the ongoing protest, demanding a minimum basic salary of Tk 23,000, on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at Bhogra in Gazipur.
The deceased was identified as Russel Hawladar, 22, an electrician of Design Express Limited Company in Maleker Bari in the district and son of Hannan Hawladar of Jhalakathi district.
Protesting RMG workers said that Russel died in “police firing.” Police rejected the claim.
Protest for salary hike: RMG workers block road for 7th consecutive day, set vehicle on fire in Gazipur
Workers of several factories staged demonstrations on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at Bhogra area, demanding salary hike.
Later, authorities concerned of Design Express Limited declared suspension of the production of the factory amid unrest, workers said.
On information, police rushed to the spot and fired rubber bullets and used tear gas shells to disperse the workers.
RMG workers block road in Gazipur demanding salary hike for 3rd consecutive day
Md Ranju, a colleague of Russel, said, “Russel received bullet injuries while returning home from the factory.”
He was taken to Taiarunnesa Memorial Medical College and Hospital where the doctors referred him to Tongi Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital.
Dr Tarek Hasan, resident medical officer of Tongi Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital, said Russel was brought dead at the hospital.
The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy, said Dr Tarek.
Online gambling: Ringleader, 3 gang members arrested in Dhaka, Gazipur
Abu Siddique, officer-in-charge of Bason Police Station, said the workers staged a demonstration and put up a barricade on the highway. They also torched a vehicle during the protest.
Police used tear gas shells and fired sound grenades to disperse them, he said.
Asked about the death of the worker in “police firing,” OC Abu Siddique said he was not aware of it.
6 RMG workers dead after bus runs them over on highway in Trishal
At least six workers of a garment factory were dead and eight others were injured when a speeding bus ran them over while they were waiting to board another bus on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Trishal upazila, under Mymensingh district, today (October 11, 2023).
Four of the deceased were identified as Jesmine Akter, 35; Sirajul Islam, 40; Sohel Mia, 28; and Liton Mia, 30, of Sadar upazila while the identities of two others could not be known immediately.
Quoting locals, Main Uddin, officer-in-charge of Trishal Police Station, said a Dhaka-bound bus of ‘SS Travellers’ from Sherpur made a sudden stop at Chelerghat around 7:30 am today, as one of its tyres got punctured.
Read: Man, grandson drown in Mymensingh pond
Passengers of the bus got off and were waiting on the highway for another bus. Around 8 am, a bus arrived at the spot, and they tried to board it.
At this time, another bus, speeding on the highway, hit the people standing on the road -- leaving three dead on the spot and 11 injured.
Read: Mother, minor daughter found hanging in Mymensingh house
Of the injured, three died on the way to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.
Vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway remained halted for some time after the accident.
Read: Lightning kills 2 students in Mymensingh
CPD recommends minimum wage of Tk 17,568 for RMG industries
The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) on Sunday (October 8, 2023), based on research of living expenses, recommended minimum wage of Tk 17,568, at the entry level, for export-oriented apparel industries.
Currently, the minimum wage for garment workers, set by the wage board on December 1, 2018, stands at Tk 8,000 – a sum frequently scrutinised, particularly given the prevailing economic crisis.
Read: Lack of awareness a serious risk on pollution: CPD
CPD said, if the foreign buyers pay an additional 7 cents per apparel product, factory owners will not be under pressure to pay this wage.
The CPD made this proposal at the minimum wage revision, monitoring, and recommendation dialogue for the garment sector. The event was held at a hotel in Dhaka’s Gulshan.
CPD Research Director Khondokar Golam Moazzem unveiled the proposal. He explained that the proposed increase in minimum wage has been made through findings from a comprehensive survey on the garment sector, conducted by CPD.
The research institute said that they are making the proposal after surveying 228 workers in 76 factories.
The CPD research director and senior research assistant Tamim Ahmed presented the keynote paper at the event.
Read: Bangladesh will need $10 billion annually to import primary fuel for power generation: CPD
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan, BKMEA Executive President Mohammad Hatim, Owners’ Representative in Minimum Wage Board and former president of BGMEA Siddikur Rahman, Minimum Wage Board Workers’ Representative Sirajul Islam, among others, were present at the event.
The government set a new minimum wage board on April 10, 2023, tasked with determining the new minimum wage for the RMG industry through discussions at the tripartite level.
The board has already met several times, and the new minimum wage is likely to be finalised within the next month.
Read: It is the ‘profession’ of TIB and CPD to find loopholes in budget, Hasan Mahmud says
The issue of minimum wage is immensely important, particularly given that it has a substantial impact on the RMG industry’s overall competitiveness and the livelihood of workers. Hence, it is crucial to examine the current structure of wages and to determine a new wage in a way that allows workers to have a fair minimum wage.
RMG exports to EU grew 9.93% in FY 2022-23: Export Promotion Bureau
RMG exports from Bangladesh to the European Union (EU) saw 9.93 percent growth during the fiscal year 2022-23 — from $21.40 billion in FY 2021-22 to $23.52 billion in FY 2022-23, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
Read: Bangladesh to retain duty-free access for 98% of exports, including RMG as UK introduces new scheme
However, exports to some major markets in the EU region, such as Germany and Poland, have declined significantly, said BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel quoting the facts.
In FY 2022-23, apparel exports to Spain, France, Italy, Denmark and Netherland were worth US$ 3.37 billion, US$ 2.94 billion, US$ 2.27 billion, US$ 1.28 billion, and US$ 1.85 billion respectively.
Read: Elevated Expressway’s Airport-Farmgate section to open in September: Quader
Export to USA, the top apparel export destination of Bangladesh, declined by 5.51 percent to US$ 8.51 billion, from US$ 9.01 billion in FY 2021-22, in the mentioned period.
At the same time, RMG exports to the UK and Canada increased by 11.78 percent and 16.55 percent respectively.
During the mentioned year, Bangladesh’s exports to non-traditional markets has achieved significant growth of 31.38 percent.
Read: RMG exports in FY23 almost $47bn, 85% of total exports
Among the major non-traditional markets, exports to Japan, Australia and India crossed the one billion dollar milestone.
The share of non-traditional markets in total RMG export also increased by 17.82 percent in FY 2022-23 from 14.96 percent in FY 2021-22.
At least 10 hurt in clash between RMG workers and police in Savar
At least 10 people were injured when a clash broke out between ready-made garments (RMG) workers and law enforcers in Ashulia area of Savar upazila on Tuesday (May 23, 2023) as the workers blocked Baipail-Abdullahpur highway, police said.
According to the workers, the authority of Fashion Forum Limited Garment declared the garment closed indefinitely as they went on a strike and stopped working from Monday on various demands.
Read more: Bangladesh-Australia have huge opportunities to expand trade: BGMEA President
Observing the notice put at the gate last night, the workers started to block the Baipail-Abdullahpur highway and police intercepted them.
Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kamruzzaman confirmed the matter and said that additional police have been deployed in front of the factory to avoid any untoward incident.
Read more: Dip in US market fails to dent apparel sector's growth momentum.
Bangladesh-Australia have huge opportunities to expand trade: BGMEA President
Bangladesh and Australia have immense potential to enhance bilateral trade by further deepening collaboration and cooperation, said Faruque Hassan, President of BGMEA.
Trade between the two countries had grown considerably over the past years and more opportunities still lie ahead that could benefit both sides if reaped together, he said.
He came up with the observations during a meeting with Tim Watts, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Australian government, in Dhaka on May 15.
Brendan Hodgson, Director, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives Section at Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Megan Jones, Assistant Secretary, Indian Ocean and South Asia RegionalAustralian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia; and Louisa Bochner, Adviser, office of the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs ; Jeremy Bruer, Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh were also present at the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, State Minister for the ICT Division, Government of Bangladesh; Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, MP, Deputy Minister for Education, Government of Bangladesh; and Russell T. Ahmed, President of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS).
They had discussions about different issues, including potential areas of expanding trade and investment between Australia and Bangladesh.
Issues relevant to Bangladesh’s RMG industry including its prospects and preparedness to continue the growth momentum were discussed during the meeting.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan briefed the Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs about the huge progress made by Bangladesh’s RMG industry in terms of workplace safety, environmental sustainability, and workers' rights and welfare.
He said Bangladesh was interested in importing more cotton and wool from Australia to meet the growing demand of the RMG and textile industry.
The BGMEA President informed the Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs about about the BGMEA’s initiative to organize the Bangladesh Apparel Summit in Australia on 18th July 2023 and called on him to expend support in organizing the event.
He also sought cooperation from Australia in developing knowledge and skills of the students of BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) in textile, apparel, fashion, design and business through collaboration with leading Australian universities and fashion institutes.
He expressed thanks to the Australian government for its decision to continue duty-free market access for Bangladesh. “It would support Bangladesh in maintaining the momentum of its economic growth after the LDC graduation,” Faruque Hassan added.
Dip in US market fails to dent apparel sector's growth momentum
Bangladesh’s apparel exports in the first nine months of the current fiscal, i.e. July 2022-March 2023, jumped by around 12 percent - an impressive clip by anybody's standards. It is even more impressive when you consider that apparel exports to the US, which has been its largest single market, actually declined 5%.
On the other hand, exports to the European Union overall, kept up with the pace of the industry. Apparel exports to the European Union during July-March of the 2022-23 fiscal also jumped by almost 12 percent (11.8% to be more precise), to $17.61 billion, compared to the $15.75 billion recorded in July-March of the 2021-22 fiscal, according to BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel.
The overall growth in apparel export has been an impressive 12.2%, from $31.43 billion in the first 9 months of FY 2021-22, to $35.25 billion in the first 9 months of FY 2022-23.
Read More: Speakers emphasise safety, security in industries to avert another Rana Plaza tragedy
This highly impressive growth figure has been achieved despite the industry's exports to the US having actually declined by 5 percent - to $6.25 billion in the first 9 months of the current fiscal, from the $6.6 billion recorded last year.
Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the UK and Canada reached $3.84 billion and $1.08 billion with 14.04 percent and 17.68 percent growth respectively.
Among the major markets in the EU, apparel exports to Germany declined by 4.16% year-over-year while exports to France and Spain grew by 25.23% and 18.82% year-over-year respectively. On the other hand, exports to Poland declined by 14.86%.
Read More: BGMEA writes to US policymakers for duty-free access for US cotton-made apparel.
The most significant growth was reported in the nontraditional sector. The apparel export to nontraditional market increased by 34.74% to US$6.44 billion in July-March period of FY 2022-23 from US$ 4.78 billion in the same period.
Mohiuddin Rubel, BGMEA director, said: “BGMEA is working to facilitate the exploration of new markets, as well as working on policy reforms to facilitate and simplify business.”
“Our efforts will be continued, and it’s time for all of us in the industry to promote and highlight our strengths in new products and new markets before the global customers (existing and new ones) to explore new opportunities. That will help sustain our growth in the longer term,” he added.
Read More: Apparel exports to EU grew 35.69% in 2022.