A story headlined “RMG workers face immense financial hardship” appeared in Bangladesh Post on Sunday. It says Covid-19 places RMG workers in highly vulnerable situation.
Thousands of readymade garment (RMG) factory workers lost their jobs due to shut-down of their factories during the first wave of coronavirus.
Besides, the workers who are in service are also passing serious financial hardship due to minimum wage.
The country’s RMG sector has been hit hard by COVID-19 as about 317 factories were shut down during the first wave of coronavirus. Foreign buyers cancelled the RMG products orders while many orders have been held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Country’s RMG industry acts as a catalyst for the development of Bangladesh as it alone earns about 78% of the yearly foreign exchange of the country.
As the RMG sector and its workers are in severe crisis,
the government will have to extend all out support to
keep it running and protect its workers
We think the government and the owners of the RMG owners must do more to protect thousands of workers in this sector.
The garment factory owners have received incentives from the government while the workers lead a difficult life. The owners are allegedly manipulating the workers in many ways.
In this regard, we think the government will ask the factory owners to stand beside the vulnerable workers immediately. Apart from the factory owners, the government should come forward with all out assistance to keep the RMG sector running at full speed and its workers alive.
We think the government and the garment owners need to maintain good relations with the foreign buyers to continue the tempo of orders. It has also been noticed that the global apparel value chain continued to experience an unprecedented disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As the RMG sector and its workers are in severe crisis, the government will have to extend all-out support to keep it running and protect its workers.