The country's local Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry is currently passing through a spree of challenges due to prevailing political turmoil, internal instability, fuel price hike, cotton price fluctuation in the international market to unrelenting geopolitical conflicts across the globe.
Amid such chaos, it is disturbing thata number of garment factories in Gazipur industrial area have already been shut down, turning scores of workers jobless. at least 51 factories have been closed in Gazipur in the last 5 months following the July Uprising. In addition, 7 more factories will be closed by next May. Among the closed factories are 16 in Beximco Industrial Park in the city's Sarabo area, TMS Apparels in Tungi'sSataish area, Niagara Textile and Mahmud Jeans in Chandra area. In short, more than half a million workers have been affected because of sudden and unexpected factory closures.
Laid-off workers are facing severe problems to maintain their families. Even, some have been reported to get involved in criminal activities. As a dire repercussion, regular occurrences of theft and robbery have alarmingly shot up in Gazipur area. Moreover, agitated workers of closed factories are frequently blocking highways pressing demands while causing unending sufferings to commuters.
According to Gazipur Industrial Police total number of registered factories in the district, including small and large stands at 2,176. Of these, 1,154 are RMG factories. Since November last year, 35 ready-made garment factories have not been able to pay their workers, which is 2 percent of total factories. In addition, 45 percent of factories have not paid salaries since December. Currently, there is visible workers discontent in some 5 percent of factories in Gazipur. And a critical situationprevails regarding increment in 9 percent of factories.
However, we fear if the unrest continues in such horrific manner it will spread across the whole country soon. Exports will get delayed coupled with orders cancelled. Such unrelenting disruptions not only affect the immediate workforce but also damaging global buyers' confidence on the topic of ethical labour practices.
In December last year it was reported that Bangladesh's RMG sector recorded export earnings of $35.88 billion in the calendar year of 2023, according to the revised data from the EPB (Export Promotion Bureau). But EPB Initially reported by mentioning the amount to $47.38 billion, this correction points to an $11.50 billion decrease in export earnings compared to what was previously published.
However, need of the hour demands all stakeholders of the RMG sector - workers, owners and government's authority concern to sit together and resolve all disputes by holding meaningful dialogues. The sector has suffered enough in the past 6 months.
It is time to unite, and all work together-industry, government and global stakeholders in order to overcome the chaotic situation, and bounce back stronger than ever in 2025.
