RMG factory owners seek business 'exit plan' from govt

From an emergency general meeting on Sunday, country's export-oriented readymade garment (RMG) factory owners urged the government to give an 'exit plan' for RMG units which want to leave the business for non-viability.
RMG owners also demanded the government to introduce inflation-based yearly wage increase system on permanent basis instead of the existing system of raising wage in every 5-year by forming a commission. "We want adjustment in the workers' wage keeping in line with rate of inflation", said Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) and a former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

He was addressing the emergency general meeting of the RMG factory owners held at the BGMEA's Nurul Kader Auditorium in the city under the joint aegis of BGMEA and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA)-the two main representative bodies in the country's RMG sector. "We'll call for an exit plan for those who want to leave the garment business", he added. Most of the speakers severely criticised the civil society members and NGO leaders for their advocacy in favour of garment workers' wage hike in seminars and TV talk shows.

Some civil society members and NGOs are involved in conspiracy to destroy the country's garment sector, they alleged.
The FBCCI chief was echoed by other speakers at the meeting held against the backdrop a perception that the government might move to declare the minimum wage as per wage commission's recommendations. The commission was formed in January this year.    -UNB