BGMEA, BKMEA Call for Collective Action to Sustain Garment Industry

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and  Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) have called upon owners, workers, the government, civil society and the media to work together to ensure stability, security and a conducive production environment in the country's readymade garment (RMG) sector.

The two trade bodies said most factory owners and workers want to continue industrial operations in a peaceful environment. 

However, recent labour unrest and sporadic incidents of disorder over minimum wages in some industrial areas of Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur have disrupted normal production activities.

They stressed that responsible behaviour and cooperation from all stakeholders are essential to overcome the situation.

The associations made the call at an emergency press conference held today.

At the briefing, they said some workers, allegedly instigated by outside groups, were creating disorder inside factories and preventing other workers from joining their workplaces. 

In some cases, workers allegedly left their factories and threw bricks and stones at the main gates of other factories.

Such activities are disrupting the overall environment and production activities in industrial areas, they said.

The associations also said some member factories of BGMEA and BKMEA had been forced to suspend operations temporarily as they could not ensure adequate security and a production-friendly environment.

Replying to a question about whether those responsible for creating disorder inside factories had been identified, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said attempts were being made to mobilise workers from certain locations to destabilise the situation, with outsiders also becoming involved. 

He said BGMEA could not independently identify those involved in such incidents. However, law enforcement agencies were investigating the matter, and the associations had learned that those involved in creating disorder had come under their surveillance.

Asked why labour unrest and violence were concentrated in certain areas of Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur, Mahmud Hasan Khan said the owners would attend a meeting scheduled for November 16.

He expressed hope that the situation would improve within the next one or two days, adding that the owners would take fresh decisions if the situation did not improve.

The BGMEA president said the prevailing instability in the RMG sector was damaging the industry's image in international markets and adversely affecting the national economy. It was also disrupting the normal activities of the Minimum Wage Board, he added.

He said the Minimum Wage Board was formed on November 1, while labour unrest had started earlier, in the last week of October.

There could have been discussions over the justification of workers' demands before the formation of the board, he said. However, there was no justification for continuing such disorder after the board had been formed.

He further said the effective date of the new minimum wage had been announced at the board's first meeting.

Despite this, continued instability could put factory owners under pressure and create an environment for declaring an unreasonable wage structure, he said, expressing concern that there might be other motives behind the unrest.

At the press conference, BGMEA and BKMEA leaders called for effective government measures to ensure the overall security of factories and restore normal law and order in industrial areas.

They also sought responsible and constructive cooperation from factory owners, workers and all other stakeholders to maintain production, employment and export growth in the garment industry.