The garment industry has successfully achieved stability after passing a challenging period, said BGMEA president Khandokar Rafiqul Islam on Saturday.
Speaking at a press conference at the BGMEA complex in Uttara, he said collaboration among the government, owners, workers, the Bangladesh Army, and law enforcement agencies enabled the BGMEA board to tackle the adverse situation effectively.
Rafiqul Islam said Bangladesh's garment sector is regaining buyers' trust.
A joint task force, led by the army, was established to ensure the security of garment factories, regularly patrolling garment-dense areas, he said adding that the BGMEA, with military support, initiated community policing.
Uncertainties were created regarding the payment of August salaries for garment factories. In response, BGMEA reached out Finance Adviser and met the governor of the central bank. Following BGMEA's request, Bangladesh Bank has directed banks to facilitate the payment of salaries for August, said BGMEA leaders.
In response to a journalist's query, the BGMEA president said many factories are still facing risks, although he could not provide a specific number.
The BGMEA president mentioned that 39 garment factories affected by labour unrest in Ashulia were unable to pay salaries for September. BGMEA requested the Ministry of Finance to arrange for interest-free loans on easy terms to ensure salary payments for these factories.
Furthermore, a programme was launched to sell essential commodities at fair prices to 40 lakh workers in the garment industry.
On October 16, Labour and Employment Adviser Asif Mahmud inaugurated this initiative.
The press conference also revealed that in response to BGMEA's request, the requirement for Fire Resistance Rating for steel structures in garment factories has been relaxed.
The BGMEA also called on the government to maintain good law and order in the industry;
simplify and expediting customs and port procedures; stop unnecessary delays in loading and unloading from ships at Chittagong port; non-disconnection of factory utilities for the next 3 months during this critical time of the industry.
It also called for ensuring that banking sector reforms do not create any negative impact on production and commercial activities; ensuring that if action is taken against any person, his businesses are not harmed; forming a task force comprising NBR and Bangladesh Bank to formulate business friendly appropriate policy support for the industry.
The association demanded ensuring adequate power supply to industry and formulating a sustainable power and energy policy, including rational pricing of power.
It said many factories' ongoing export orders are at risk due to the labor unrest. In such a case, the association called for non-classification of loans against all types of loans and provision of rescheduling facility as per recently issued BRPD Circular Letter No-44 dated 14th October 2024 by Bangladesh Bank.
It also demanded for allowing gas supply through cylinders from CNG stations on an urgent basis to continue the normal production activities of ready-made garments factories and taking appropriate measures to ensure that the disposal of fabric waste and other recyclable wastes is free from external influences.
Citing that the rate of cash incentives to RMG industry has been reduced in view of the country’s transition from LDCs, the association said this has increased unintended risks and disruptions in the industry.
The association also called for arranging a safe exit policy for entrepreneurs who are unable to sustain the business due to “various adversities”.