Bangladesh
Garment Sector BGMEA decides to open all closed garment factories
Dhaka, Nov 15: The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has decided to open all garment factories that have been closed indefinitely. This decision has been taken after discussions with the workers of the affected area, labor organizations, local political leaders, administration, and industrial police.
BGMEA said this decision was taken after a meeting with the concerned parties on Tuesday. Earlier last Sunday, in order to protect the safety of employees and workers and protect the factory property, all the activities of 130 garment factories were announced to be closed for an indefinite period. After two days of this announcement, it was decided to open all the factories.
According to BGMEA sources, garment workers vandalized factories in various places in the name of agitation despite the increase in wages. Since the announcement of wages, some unidentified unruly workers in several factories went on illegal strike on unreasonable demands. They beat factory officials. Extensive vandalism and destruction was carried out inside the factory. Due to these reasons the garment factories were closed indefinitely.
In this regard, BGMEA director Mohiuddin Rubel told Jago News that the owners of the garment factories had decided to close all the factories mainly for the safety of the officers, employees and workers and to protect the property of the factory. However, as the situation gradually normalized, it has been decided to open all the closed factories. In this case, this decision is made through discussions with workers, labor leaders, factory owners and law enforcement agencies.
He said that two factories in Mirpur area are still closed. Negotiations are going on with the respective workers-owners of those factories. Hope they open too. However, despite the decision to open the factory, all new recruitment processes are still closed. BGMEA president Farooq Hasan said, we have asked to stop new recruitment in garment factories. New appointments will be made when the situation improves.
After BGMEA, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association or BKMEA member factories also stopped new recruitment. BKMEA has informed its member factories through a letter that new recruitment will be stopped unless necessary. At the same time, in view of the overall situation, it has also been asked to keep the notice of 'recruitment closed' visible at the gates of the factories.
