Thursday, October 9, 2025

Garment makers move to right labour wrongs

Share their steps with The Daily Star following international outcry
Against the background of growing concern over labour rights violation in Bangladesh, garment makers yesterday said they had taken the issue seriously and started to improve work environment and maintain compliance in factories. They said garment makers have already engaged the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) “Better Work Programme” to ensure labour rights. An international expert is now designing a framework of the programme.
Many factories have graduated participatory committees to take better care of workers. The participatory committees had the equal facilities of a trade union, said factory owners at a discussion with The Daily Star at the newspaper’s office in the capital.
The garment makers also demanded fair and quick investigation into the murder of Aminul Islam, labour leader of Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity. Recently, different rights groups and the US ambassador to Bangladesh have demanded a rapid investigation into the killing.
The issue of Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (Ticfa) also came up in the discussion. Garment makers said it should be dealt at the state level.
The factory owners also expressed grave concern over the recent labour unrest in the Ashulia industrial belt.
In June, the factories in Ashulia had to suspend production for 10 days. The owners said the disruption in production was a serious blow to the country’s image as the second largest garment maker of the world.
During the unrest, many buyers had threatened to shift their orders to other countries, said Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, president of Bangladesh Grament Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
He said Bangladesh had improved a lot on labour standards and work environment. “The owners have come to realise that they must take care of workers for the sustainability of the industry.”
According to Mohiuddin, 600 garment factories in Bangladesh have participatory committees while the rest 5,500 registered factories have welfare bodies. “The participatory committees have been a platform for the workers where they can raise their problems.”
He said BGMEA was running two hospitals and 12 clinics for workers and many schools for their children. “Every factory has its own medical facility for workers.”
The BGMEA was now working with different development organisations to prevent diseases like tuberculosis and HIV AIDS among workers, he added.
“When Bangladeshi camel jockeys had returned to the country, we rehabilitated them. We have also employed the transgender,” said Mohiuddin, adding that they had introduced life insurance for workers.
The BGMEA will begin the second edition of its talent hunt from August 5. Last year, the event recognised 10 best singers from the RMG sector, said Mohiuddin.
“There has been significant improvement in owner-worker relationship which was not there even a decade ago. When it comes to work environment, we are better than Cambodia, Vietnam, India and Lesotho. But we cannot sell it,” said the BGMEA president.
The garment makers also pointed out that buyers should be ethical instead of looking for opportunities to force apparel makers to cut price.
Mohiuddin said although Bangladesh’s garment makers were doing a great job, their contribution was not promoted well. “We are failing to brand our country through a massive campaign,” he said.
He also said there was propaganda that international buyers are losing interest in Bangladeshi garment items. “It is not true. We have talked to the CEOs of major companies. They said they were still willing to buy products made in Bangladesh.”
AK Azad, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said the international buyers operating in Bangladesh in a meeting with the labour minister last week had urged the government to increase workers’ wage by 10 percent to avert further unrest in the industry.
The buyers feared that the orders would not be executed if there was further violence in the RMG sector.
He said buyers were also concerned about the country’s political situation. “After the unrest in Ashulia, they are closely monitoring everything, including the political development.”
Fazlul Hoque, president of Bangladesh Employers Federation, blamed local influential politicians for the unrest in Ashulia.
He said they would sit with officials of ILO Dhaka office tomorrow to discuss the latest development regarding the Better Work Programme.
The garment makers said although the labour leaders regularly talked about establishing trade unions at the factories, there was no demand from the workers to do so at factory level.
He also questioned the role of labour leaders and urged them to play a positive role. “During the unrest in Ashulia, no labour leaders went there to ask the workers to stop the violence.”
Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of Exporters Association of Bangladesh, said Ashulia-based factories are of the ideal kind, where the managements strictly maintain compliance.
“Still, a majority of unrests take place there,” he said, calling for an investigation into the matter.
He also criticised the central bank for its recent circular on loan classification, which, he said, would hurt the industry.
Mohammad Hatem, vice president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said there was no congenial environment in Bangladesh to allow trade unionism at the factories.
“Our experience with trade union is bitter. About 130 factories started trade unions. Of them, 80 are now closed,” he said.
Annisul Huq, former president of FBCCI, said the country’s garment owners want a fair and quick investigation into the killing of Aminul Islam. “We want the killers of the labour leaders arrested.”
Mohiuddin said although Bangladeshi exporters paid the highest duties to enter into the US apparel market after Cambodia, the exporters are not receiving good treatment from the world’s biggest economy.
Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, also spoke at the discussion.

-With The Daily Star input

Related News

Bangladesh and KSA sign pact for workers’ rights

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have just inked a labour recruitment agreement, marking the first deal aimed at promoting fair recruitment practices and protecting workers’ rights. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser, Prof. Asif Nazrul, and the Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Engineer Ahmad Bin Solaiman Al-Rajhi, recently came ... Read more

Poor pay, allowances of teachers affect education

World Teacher’s Day today Shahin Akhter Poor pay-scale and allowances and low social status mark the poor condition of the teachers in Bangladesh affecting the education sector, observed educationists and researchers. They also said that the Bangladeshi teachers were lagging much behind their fellows even in the neighbouring countries in terms of these facilities and ... Read more

Protecting hilsa: 22-day fishing ban begins

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government has put a 22-day halt on catching, transporting, storing, selling, and marketing hilsa throughout the country. This measure aims to protect the fish during its crucial breeding season. The ban started at midnight yesterday and will last until October 25, as stated in a notification from the Ministry of ... Read more

Road fatalities: 446 crashes, 417 lives lost in September

News Desk : dhakamirror.com In September, a tragic report from the Road Safety Foundation revealed that at least 417 people lost their lives and 682 were injured in 446 road accidents throughout Bangladesh. Among those who died, there were 63 women and 47 children, as highlighted in the foundation’s monthly report released today. In 151 ... Read more

Man’s fatal fall into Ramna Park lake

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A tragic incident occurred yesterday at Ramna Park in the capital, where a man drowned in the lake. The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Wasimul Haq. The police were able to identify him using fingerprint records. According to Ramna police SI Mizanur Rahman, he was discovered unconscious around 6:00 PM ... Read more

Tariff Commission’s size-based hilsa pricing strategy

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC), also known as the Tariff Commission, has suggested setting a maximum retail price for hilsa based on its size. This recommendation comes in response to the unusual spike in prices seen in the local market. On Sunday, the Tariff Commission released a report detailing ... Read more

Ekushey Book Fair won’t happen in December

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangla Academy announced yesterday (28 September), that the previously scheduled dates for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 have been postponed. In a press release, they explained that this decision was made following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 21, which indicated that the fair should ... Read more

Working in Bangladesh is quite challenging: CEC

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Election Commission is grappling with a mix of challenges, both seen and unseen, as it gears up for the upcoming elections and responds to various demands, shared chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Saturday. “These hurdles might not be apparent from the outside, but we’re constantly navigating through them,” ... Read more

Travel ban on Keokradong hill to be lifted starting from 1 October

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Great news for travelers! Keokradong hill in Bandarban’s Ruma upazila is set to welcome tourists again starting October 1. The district administration has finally lifted the travel ban that had been in effect for almost three years. Bandarban Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shamim Ara Rini announced the decision today (27 September) during ... Read more

Tree planting campaign to lower pollution, make city more attractive

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Shahjahan Mia has inaugurated a tree plantation and greening programme covering 33 road medians, spanning a total length of 31 kilometres, within the corporation’s jurisdiction. Under the “Zero Soil” programme, ornamental flowering trees and grasses will be planted across 28 DSCC medians, while the ... Read more

Krishi Bank ranks third in remittance collection

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Krishi Bank has shown remarkable success in collecting remittances from expatriates during the first eight months of 2025 (January–August). Known as bank for farmers due to its agricultural loan services, this state-owned institution has climbed to the third position in remittance collection from abroad in that timeframe. This notable achievement has ... Read more

North Bay low : Rain forecast for Bangladesh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Many parts of the country is expected to witness moderate to heavy and very heavy rainfall in the coming days due to the formation of a low-pressure system over the north Bay and adjoining coastal areas, the Met office said in its latest forecast. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s 120-hour weather ... Read more

Metrorail boosts service: Extended hours & more frequent arrivals

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka metrorail service is set to start operating earlier in the morning and later at night to better serve the growing number of passengers. Service hours will be extended by 30 minutes at both the beginning and end of the day, and the interval between trains will be reduced by nearly ... Read more

22% minors in Bangladesh’s sex trade

News Desk : dhakamirror.com At least 22 percent of victims of commercial sexual exploitation (abuse of a person, or a minor, through sexual activities in exchange for money, goods, or other benefits) in Bangladesh are children, said speakers at an event yesterday. They shared the information at the launch of “Project Shurakkha”, an initiative of ... Read more

WB Reports Bangladesh Heat Costs at $1.78 Billion in 2024

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Rising temperatures in Bangladesh are fueling a surge in heat-related illnesses, leading to the loss of 250 million workdays in 2024 and economic losses estimated at $1.33–1.78 billion, representing about 0.3 to 0.4 percent of Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, according to a new World Bank report. The report ... Read more

Police clearance no longer required for passports

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced that police verification will no longer be necessary for obtaining a passport, thereby reducing unnecessary hassle for citizens. “Getting a passport is a basic right. We have established a rule that eliminates the need for police verification,” he stated. While speaking at the opening session ... Read more

Metro rail achieves record 4 lakh daily passengers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Metro Rail has achieved a remarkable milestone by carrying over 400,000 passengers in a single day. The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), which operates the Metro Rail, announced this achievement on their official Facebook page on Friday night. For the first time, Metro Rail recorded 403,164 passengers. The Metro Rail ... Read more

Most people, about 66% think civil servants behave as if they are rulers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com More than 100,000 participants have contributed their responses to reform commission’s online survey 80% of the respondents believe that the administration is not approachable for the general public, according to a survey conducted by the Public Administration Reform Commission. Additionally, 66% of participants feel that civil servants act as if they ... Read more

Former Justice Abdur Rouf dies

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Md Abdur Rouf has passed away at the age of 91. He died around 10:00 am while receiving treatment at Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital in Dhaka, as stated in a press release. Justice Rouf had been battling heart disease, lung complications, kidney issues, and ... Read more

Bangladesh climbed 4 positions to rank 93rd in global passport index

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh has climbed four notches up in the latest Henley Passport Index 2025, ranking 93rd out of 99. However, the number of visa-free destinations for Bangladeshi passport holders has dropped from 42 in 2024 to 39 this year, reflecting a decline in global travel privileges. Despite this improvement in rank — ... Read more