The Jute industry is losing productivity and competitiveness due to its old technology, creating risks of survival of the sector and employment loss, leaders of the Jute and Jute Industry Protection Committee said on Tuesday.
At a press conference at the National Press Club, they urged the government to adopt new technology in the jute sector. The program was aided by ActionAid Bangladesh.
The executive president of the committee, Abdul Khalek, said: “We hope workers’ wage will increase from the beginning of next year. Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation will face constraints to run their five jute mills.
“If the public sector jute mills are shut down, 35,000 workers will become jobless. So far, the country witnessed a shutdown of 51 jute mills.”
He said the world market is still in favour of Bangladeshi jute and jute goods, although the public sector mills have been facing difficulties.
“Last year, we exported 850,000 tons of jute. Now, what we need is to increase productivity and build a marketing network to sell unsold products,” Khalek said.
“Currently the mills are operating with the old machines which have a 66% productivity rate. To tackle the situation the sector needs new technologies.” he said.
ActionAid Program Director Asger Ali Sabri said a packaging act should be effectively imposed to encourage jute-made bags and packaging in the local economy.
“We have to diversify our jute products to run the mills and create new markets. Other issues like administrative bottlenecks, lack of accountability and corruption need to be addressed,” he added.
Committee General Secretary Khalid Hossain and Bangladesh Trade Union Centre President Shahidullah Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion.