Nearly 17,000 readymade garment (RMG) factory workers across Bangladesh have lost their jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic and many more would lose jobs from this month. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Rubana Huq recently said most of the factories are running at 55 per cent capacity due to lack of orders.

“The reality was unexpected for the sector that workers will have to face terminations but entrepreneurs are helpless as 99 per cent of factories are running with only 55 per cent capacity,” she said at a virtual press conference on the eve of the inauguration of COVID-19 laboratory for RMG workers. BGMEA launched the laboratory in cooperation with the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh.

Many entrepreneurs would be eliminated from business as well, she was quoted as saying by Bangla media reports.

Meanwhile, data from the department of inspection for factories and establishments show 17,579 workers from 67 factories, including seven non-RMG units, were laid-off during March to May.

Apprehending that the sector would receive 30 per cent of required export orders in the coming months, she said it would not be possible for factory owners to retain all workers with 30 per cent orders.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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