Garment industry in disarray
Photo: Mahabub Alam Khan / driknews
While shopping in the malls of England, I have often sorted through ranges of flawlessly designed clothes that flaunt on hangers with the tags 'Made in Bangladesh' sown onto them. Whenever I wear these nicely fitted clothes it gives me a sense of great pride as I appreciate and respect the hard work that Bangladeshi labourers put into making these high quality products which are not only popular in England but also several other Western countries. However, at the same time I cannot help but feel a growing sense of dismay due to the unfair treatment that Bangladeshi labourers have to live with. This current wave of unrest among garment labourers is a matter of great national concern. These individuals who work from dawn till dusk are getting paid wages that are inadequate for them to afford the basic everyday needs of life. This, therefore, will undoubtedly instigate strikes, further causing stoppages in garment production thus hindering business in the apparel industry which accounts for about 80% of exports of Bangladesh. Garment factories are labour intensive, it is of utmost importance then to keep labourers motivated so that their maximum potential is brought out in their production of garments. Without any incentive to work, productivity and efficiency will undoubtedly be low which will result in financial losses. This affects the development of Bangladesh further as export of garments is a major foreign exchange earner. The solution to this then is for labourers to be given a fair wage, good working conditions and decent working hours, the government also assuring them that their voices will be heard. Only then will this unrest end, bringing about greater efficiency and profits in the garment industry which is one of the most effective tools for stimulating growth and development in Bangladesh.
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