Most of the ready-made garment factories have worked: the rest will open

Most of the ready-made garment factories in and around the capital Dhaka opened yesterday. Although the attendance of workers is relatively low, work has been done in almost all departments. The remaining factories are also in the process of opening. Although BGMEA-BKMEA has announced, work will be done in certain sections. The remaining factories will be opened in phases. It has been alleged that almost all the workers in the village are returning to Dhaka to join the work to reduce the risk of losing their jobs even if the factory owners do not put pressure on them. BGMEA and BKMEA, the two largest garment owners’ organizations, announced that all garment factories in the country would be closed till April 25 in coordination with the public holiday in the face of severe criticism to curb the outbreak of coronavirus.

Speaking to factory owners and labor leaders at various levels, it is learned that in the midst of the global epidemic, many garment factories are still in a state of disarray. The owners of the garment factories kept pressuring the government and the association to reopen the factory so that these orders would not be canceled. Considering the issue, some garment factories were first started on a limited scale with the permission of the government. Initially, factories in Dhaka city and its environs were supposed to be opened, but factories in many areas were opened yesterday. However, due to low attendance of workers, many factories did not do much work.

It is learned that the BGMEA leaders suddenly decided to partially open the garment factories after discussions with the FBCCI leaders on Saturday evening. BGMEA sent a letter to the Secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Employment at night informing about the matter. BGMEA president said the reason. Rubana Haque said it would be difficult to bring back orders if they went to competing countries. Therefore, it is important to decide to open a factory with a limited number of workers. The same decision was taken by BKMEA, another association of garment industry owners. The Ministry of Labor then issued a directive to start the factory in compliance with the hygiene rules.

In a directive sent to BGMEA members on the night of April 25, the BGMEA said that in order to keep the economic wheel in motion, the BGMEA would advise you to open factories in a limited range on a zonal basis. Earlier, it was advised not to bring the workers to Dhaka. Start a factory with workers who live near the factory. The letter requested that the members not be laid off for humanitarian reasons. Missing workers will be paid in April.
The BGMEA directive further said, “I am requesting the factory opening date and protocol to be strictly adhered to as advised.” In any case, if the workers go to Dhaka illegally, it will not be possible for us as an organization to cooperate.

According to the decision of BGMEA-BKMEA, the factories are to be opened in three stages. In the first phase, knitting, dyeing and sampling factories will be set up in Narayanganj area besides Dhaka metropolitan area on Sunday and Monday. Factories in Ashulia, Savar, Dhamrai and Manikganj from April 28 to 30, Rupganj, Narsingdi, Kanchpur area on April 30, Gazipur and Mymensingh areas on May 2 and 3. In the case of opening a factory, it was initially said that 30 per cent of the production capacity would be introduced. It will be gradually increased. But now the factory owners cannot bring any workers from outside Dhaka. It has been alleged that most of these decisions were deviated from yesterday.