Bangladesh manufacturers to reopen garment factories

DHAKA: Bangladeshi manufacturers on Thursday decided to reopen several hundred garments factories at suburban Ashulia after a three-day forced closure following worker protests over the country’s worst ever industrial disaster killing 1,127 of their comrades.

“We have decided to reopen the factories from tomorrow after the government assurance of adequate security,” Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Mohammad Atiqul Islam told a news briefing following a meeting with senior government ministers.

Home minister Mahiuddin Khan Alamgir in brief comments promised steps to ensure law and order at the industrial hub while the workers preferred to return to the production line after assurances of enhanced safety steps and wages.

The BGMEA on Monday announced the shutdown of the factories in the Ashulia industrial area adjoining Savar where the eight-story building housing five garments units collapsed three weeks ago.

The tragedy sparked afresh workers protests and western retailers concerns about the safety standards in factories and low wages for the labourers.

Bangladesh cabinet earlier this week approved an amendment to Bangladesh’s labour laws, paving the way for parliament to enact a law allowing garment workers to form trade unions without prior approval from the factory owners.

The government also formed a wage board to consider pay increases for ready-made garment workers.

Bangladesh wrapped up the salvage campaign at the collapse site of Rana Plaza two days ago when hundreds of people joined a special prayer along with rescuers mourning for the victims as 1,127 people were known to have died in collapse.

Officials said at least 176 people were still missing after 20 days of search operations when army troops, fire fighters and ordinary volunteers rescued 2,444 people alive in the country’s biggest ever salvage drill.

Police so far arrested 12 people over the tragedy, including the owner of the building and four ferment factory owners who were accused of forcing workers to return to work a day after cracks were reported at the structure though some 300 shops and branch of a private bank was kept shut fearing the disaster.

But mounting anger among garments workers prompted the garments factory owners association to shut several hundred units at Savar and Ashulia industrial district for indefinite period fearing violent outbursts as the workers there already refused to work citing safety fears.

Global clothing giants Inditex and H&M, meanwhile, promised to sign up to a plan to improve safety for workers in the factories producing for them while Walmart asked Bangladesh government to stop production at one apparel factory until safety standards were complied and investigate the condition at another.

PVH, which owns Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger also signed on to a plan that prevents fire and building collapses in Bangladesh for independent safety inspections to help finance fire safety and building improvements in factories they work with.

The companies who sign on will have to terminate business with any factory that refuses to make necessary safety upgrades.