Garment exporters on Wednesday urged the importer brands not to leave Bangladesh and to pay the right prices for garment items for the betterment of the workers.
At a meeting with the US congressman George Miller at Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association office in the capital the BGMEA leaders said it was very unfortunate that after the recent accidents in the RMG factories some buyers threatened to go away from Bangladesh.
‘We told the congressman that The BGMEA requested them not to leave Bangladesh and said we want to work together to ensure risk-free factory and to increase the living standard of the workers,’ BGMEA president Md Atiqul Islam said.
He said the US congressman had discussed on the health and occupational safety, risk-free factory and trade union rights.
The BGMEA president said the congressman visited some readymade garment factories in Dhaka without informing the BGMEA and he expressed his happiness over the working condition.
Former BGMEA president Annisul Huq said that they urged Miller to pressurise the retailers of the US to pay higher prices for Bangladeshi garment items.
He said the congressman had expressed his concern over the security, health and occupational safety, minimum wage and trade union rights.
‘We said that the minimum wage would be increased but that will have to link with the productivity,’ he said.
‘The importer brands have also responsibility to upgrade the living standard including wages of the workers as they (brands) are purchasing products at $5 and selling at $35,’ Annisul commented.
‘We have informed the congressman about the measures already taken to
ensure fire and building safety after the incidents of Tazreen Fashions and Rana Plaza and I think he is convinced,’ he said.
Annisul hoped that the two major incidents in the garment sector — Tazreen factory fire and Rana Plaza collapse — would bring a significant change for the sector.
BGMEA president Md Atiqul Islam requested buyers not to leave Bangladesh and said, ‘We want to work together to ensure risk-free factory and to increase the living standard of the workers.’
‘I think the factory owners understand how important it is that the workers’ participation in works and every operator has to ensure a safe factory or working condition for their employees,’ US congressman Miller told reporters after the meeting.
He said, ‘The workers have rights to refuse to work in a dangerous situation.’
Miller said the BGMEA had assured him of ensuring workplace safety.
-With New Age input
