BOESL supervises RMG workers' hiring for Bulgarian factories

Two Bulgarian companies, AntoanVill and Mizia-96AD, are recruiting around 100 RMG workers on a monthly salary of $460 (Tk45,000). These companies require sewing machine operators, pressing machine operators, and tailors, according to BOESL sources. The average income of an RMG worker in Bangladesh is between Tk8,000 to Tk8,420. The tenure of the renewable contract will be for a maximum period of three years.

Apart from the monthly pay, a $50 monthly meal allowance and a room shared by 3-4 people will also be provided to those who are selected. While compensation for workplace accidents will be provided in line with Bulgarian labour laws, electricity and water bills will need to be borne by the workers.

The total migration cost for RMG workers to move to Bulgaria is Tk52,740, which includes BOESL’s service charge of Tk42,000. Situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, Bulgaria has common border with five countries, including textile & apparel exporter Turkiye in the south.

While Bulgaria boasts some of the lowest production costs in Europe, its EU membership ensures that it adheres to all ethical and environmental guidelines. The Bulgarian fashion industry is still in its nascent stages and hiring of skilled Bangladeshi workers may create an avenue for it to earn from clothing exports.

However, this will not be the first time that Bangladeshi RMG workers will work overseas. Already, female skilled RMG workers are employed in Jordan on a monthly wage of Tk22,000.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)