ZCZC
BSS-49
CPD-VIRTUAL DISCUSSION
Speakers for prioritizing workers’ to face RMG sector’s crisis
DHAKA, April 23, 2020 (BSS) – Speakers at a virtual discussion meeting today called for taking a coordinated effort from the owners, workers of the RMG sector along with the government to overcome the crisis in this sector originated from the shock of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
They, especially, suggested for framing a strategy to overcome this crisis after giving priority to the opinion of the workers at the national policy level forum.
The speakers came up with such view at a virtual discussion titled “COVID-19: Workers, Owners to face crisis, government initiatives and the possible action” marking the 7th anniversary of Rana Plaza building collapse.
The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in support with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Bangladesh Office organized this virtual discussion, said a press release.
CPD’s Research Director Dr Khandaker Golam Moazzem made the key-note presentation while its distinguished fellow Prof Mustafizur Rahman was the main discussant moderated by its executive director Df Fahmida Khatun.
BGMEA Vice President Arshad Jamal Dipu, National Garments Workers Federation (NGWF) President Amirul Haque Amin, FBCCI former Vice President Helal Uddin, workers representatives Nazma Akhter, Jolly Talukder and Taslima Akhter, among others, took part at the discussion.
Moazzem in his key-note presentation said living standards of the RMG workers are at stake due to the fall in export earnings following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To overcome this problem, there is a need to forge a coordination between the garment manufacturers and exporters with the workers,” he said, adding that the garment factories should follow health safety guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Considering the Rana Plaza building collapse in mind, Moazzem also suggested for ensuring necessary services for the factory workers during any crisis or disaster period.
Prof Mustafizur Rahman said that the exporters would have to be careful to keep up their scope of businesses through overcoming the standstill in the export sector.
Dr Fahmida Khatun said both the entrepreneurs and the buyers should continue their bargaining so that the work orders at the RMG sector do not get diverted to other countries.
She also underscored the need for working in a coordinated manner by all the parties to overcome this crisis through utilizing the competitive edge of Bangladesh.
BGMEA Vice President Arshad Jamil Dipu said the Rana Plaza building collapse was a national level crisis, but the whole world is now going through a global crisis with the onslaught of this virus.
He assured that the factory owners and entrepreneurs would extend necessary cooperation to the workers during this crisis period as per the existing law of the land.
NGWF President Amirul Haque Amin demanded of the owners to stop job cuts of the RMG workers alongside clearing their due salaries and bonuses as early as possible.
BSS/PR/GM/MRU/2016hrs