Over hundred BGMEA-member factories closed amid pandemic

Hundreds of BGMEA-affiliated garment factories have been shut down in the last five months since the outbreak of coronavirus while labour leaders claim that many factories have been relocated to cheat workers on benefits.

And as a result, about 50 thousand workers have lost their jobs. However, labour leaders claim that millions of workers have become unemployed due to coronavirus.

Apart from BGMEA, BKMEA and is not a member of any organization, such at least 50 other factories have been shut down. In addition, although many factories are open, the owners have laid off workers.

In this regard, BGMEA Director (Labour) Rezwan Selim said that 105 of their member factories have been closed. As a result, 48,489 workers lost their jobs. These factories have been closed for the last two-three months since the start of coronavirus.

According to BGMEA sources, the closed garment factories include Wings Garments and Textiles Ltd., Greenland Garments Ltd., Comtex Ltd., Sun Cherry Body Fashion Ltd., Afco Abedin Garments Ltd., Bobby Knit Fashion Ltd., Down Textile Ltd., GDM Wires Ltd., Good Day Apparels Ltd., Good Day Guys Ltd., MAP Knitwear Ltd., Manshin Co (BD) Ltd., Redwan Tex Apparels Ltd., Shanta Garments Ltd., Sar Denim Ltd., Supertex Apparels Ltd., Tax Taylor Apparels Ltd., Yakub Fashion Ltd., All Weather Fashion Ltd., Bright Apparel Ltd., Mistia Sweater Ltd., Speedwell Fashion Ltd., Spotfame Apparels Ltd., Stitch Wright Ltd., Jane Apparels Ltd. and AMC Knit Composite Ltd.

Former BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman told The Business Post that most of the factory orders in coronavirus have decreased. It has become difficult for small factories to survive. Those, who depended on buying house orders, have no orders now. As everyone’s work order has waned, so some factories have been closed.

Mohammad Hatem, the first vice-president of BKMEA, told The Business Post that it is difficult for us to survive now. There is no reason to keep the factory open if the order is not received. The big garments get some orders but there is no work in many small factories. So many people have been forced to close their factories.

However, President of Bangladesh Readymade Garments Workers Federation Lovely Yasmin said differently. She said some small factories may have closed. However, many factories have been relocated. They have launched factories on a larger scale. Some factories are still being cut.

In some factories, new appointments are being made. Workers have been fired on the pretext of coronavirus, depriving them of service benefits. Now if they make a new appointment, they will not have to pay those benefits anymore. Factories have resorted to tactics in this regard, she said.

sr/wi