Garment workers joining work, leaders satisfied

After the Eid holidays, the ready-made garment factories have started normal activities. Workers have been joining work from May 17 (Monday), according to trade union leaders.

However, the factory owners have expressed the hope that all the factories will be able to start production by May 20. Besides, the workers and business leaders have expressed satisfaction over the payment of salary and bonus before Eid.

According to the factory owners, the factories are being reopened following the instructions of the government during ongoing lockdown. There are no new instructions in this regard. As a result, there is no obstacle to reopen the factories.

It is learnt that the number of BGMEA-member factories is 1,643. BKMEA has 816 factories, BTMA has 310, BEPZA has 369 and others have 4,754 factories.

According to BGMEA sources, 84 per cent of the country's export earnings come from RMG sector. The sector employs 44 lakh workers, of whom about 60 percent are women. Indirectly, the livelihood of about two crore people depends on the ready-made garment sector, about one people depend on its backward and forward industries. Overall about 5 crore people depend on the sector for their livelihood.