Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called on the readymade garment manufacturers to increase wages of the workers to benefit the whole industry.
“If owners buy one less suit or tie, nothing will happen to them. But when they give the money to the workers instead, the whole industry will benefit.”
She said the garment owners and workers have to have a good mutual relation to protect the industry from conspirators.
Prime Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the three-day 24th Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (Batexpo) 2013 at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Thursday.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA) has organised the exposition.
“Hopefully, the minimum wage board will give us their recommendations soon,” said Prime Minister.
She urged both the owners and workers in the RMG sector to try to understand problems of each other.
“Owners and workers should remain united so that no outsiders can intrude and instigate workers to create anarchy.”
Sheikh Hasina said the workers should not be surrendered to the instigation by “others” and create anarchy in the name of protest.
Pointing at the recent deadly incidents in the RMG industry, she noted that her government has taken a number of initiatives to ensure factory safety.
“Factory accidents are now a big challenge for us. We must prevent it.”
Responding to demands from the country’s apparel manufacturers, Prime Minister assured that the government would consider cutting the freight on board (FOB), bank interest rates and providing duty waiver facility on the import of capital machinery for the proposed industrial park at Bausia in Munshiganj.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Commerce Minister GM Quader, Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Faruk Khan, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, BGMEA President and Chairman of Batexpo organising committee Atiqul Islam and BGMEA Senior Vice President Abdul Wahab also addressed the function.
“Orders for RMG products usually go to where prices are relatively lower. Conspiracy in home and abroad is on to shift orders from Bangladesh to other countries,” said Syed Ashraful Islam.
He urged all concerned to remain alert of such conspiracy against the country’s apparel industry which employs nearly 4m, mostly women.
GM Quader said the government is working to have the GSP facility reinstated in the US market. “We are passing a crucial time now, indeed.”