Many to lose jobs if RMG sector is affected: BGMEA, BKMEA

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Upset at the ongoing countrywide hartal, BGMEA and BKMEA Monday said many people would simply turn jobless overnight if the existence of the country's readymade garment sector is endangered for reasons like political instability, reports UNB. "The country's present economy doesn't have the strength to endure the burden of joblessness of a large number of people," the trade bodies said in a joint statement. In the statement, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) said hartal will impede the growth, discourage investment, and slow down export putting employment at risk. "There should be peaceful political programmes instead of blockade or hartal…," the statement said requesting the political parties to refrain from enforcing harmful programmes like hartal. The statement noted that the export-oriented garment industries in the country have already been affected badly due to the global economic downtrend and gas and electricity crises. The foreign buyers are threatening to cancel orders in case of delay, and the exporters are facing situation like discount, cancellation and deferred payment due to failure in maintaining shipment time, the statement said. It said the economy will be hit hard by frequent hartals and it will not be able to overcome the losses as over four million people directly and 40 million indirectly involved in the RMG sector.