Highest priority to the RMG sector
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
IN view of the importance that the country's readymade garments (RMG) industry does so rightly deserve in areas of policy-actions by the government, the stakeholders in the sector have now been reassured by the concerned authorities about effective supportive steps for its future growth on a sustained basis, notwithstanding the troubles and difficulties that they may facing now under adverse global trade conditions. This reassurance came on the occasion of BATEXPO-2008, the exposition of apparels exported from Bangladesh, organised in Dhaka last week. The stakeholders in the sector would be sensing comfort where follow-up actions, as and where needed, do come on the same. In this context, sustained efforts for improving and maintaining further the operational conditions at Chittagong port and also for enhancing the RMG industry's competitiveness by cutting operational costs as well as reaching of its products to the overseas buyers would be considered timely and befitting at this stage.
One would furthermore like to point out here that a good number of garments industries suffered last year attacks on their premises, equipment and finished goods in varying degrees. The claimed workers' discontent linked to the violence, has not certainly died down. Tendencies to subject the garments-producing factories to acts of vandalism are there and the trouble-makers appear to be looking for opportunities to engage in mischief afresh. Though none can say with certainty that there is no element of calculated conspiracy behind the wings, the causes of the troubles, as far as they relate to workers' grievances, do need to be carefully examined and addressed, keeping the efficiency and productivity factors of the overall industry into consideration. Meanwhile, it is also an obligation on the part of the government to absolutely provide physical security to garments industries that is the source of livelihood for at least 15 million people directly and indirectly and yields some 75 per cent of the country's foreign currency earnings. This sector is just too pivotal to be allowed to be progressively undermined by any untoward developments, particularly machinations by vested interests.
On their part, RMG exporters have been imploring that the relevant government agencies should draw up a comprehensive plan to guard their establishments round the clock. They are probably agreeable to cost-sharing also for rendering such security-related duties. More significantly, the nabbing of the outside perpetrators of the troubles in the RMG factories on flimsy grounds was demanded by them to address the problems at its source. Actions on this line should come at the earliest to protect the country's premier economic sector. Genuine workers with a stake in their job and earnings, can have no interest in physically damaging their source of sustenance by tearing the same down. Workers' grievances under all situations must be dealt with, under the laws of the land and the mechanisms of collective bargaining. This is the only universally recognised method and anything else is unlawful. But no unlawful activities should be abetted.
As for the RMG owners and operators, they should also take a long view of their security not only in terms of law and order but also in giving prompt attention to market diversification to face any situation of deepening recession in the traditional buying countries. They will need to make sustained efforts for exploring further the ways and means of cost reduction, training up of more skilled workers whose supply seem to be declining, increasing workers' productivity through training, employing more efficient production methods, etc. On its part, the government should take every step to help improve supply of power and gas to RMG industries, streamline port operations and enhance the productivity of the sector. Such measures, if taken in earnest, will be found very helpful by the RMG industries.
One would furthermore like to point out here that a good number of garments industries suffered last year attacks on their premises, equipment and finished goods in varying degrees. The claimed workers' discontent linked to the violence, has not certainly died down. Tendencies to subject the garments-producing factories to acts of vandalism are there and the trouble-makers appear to be looking for opportunities to engage in mischief afresh. Though none can say with certainty that there is no element of calculated conspiracy behind the wings, the causes of the troubles, as far as they relate to workers' grievances, do need to be carefully examined and addressed, keeping the efficiency and productivity factors of the overall industry into consideration. Meanwhile, it is also an obligation on the part of the government to absolutely provide physical security to garments industries that is the source of livelihood for at least 15 million people directly and indirectly and yields some 75 per cent of the country's foreign currency earnings. This sector is just too pivotal to be allowed to be progressively undermined by any untoward developments, particularly machinations by vested interests.
On their part, RMG exporters have been imploring that the relevant government agencies should draw up a comprehensive plan to guard their establishments round the clock. They are probably agreeable to cost-sharing also for rendering such security-related duties. More significantly, the nabbing of the outside perpetrators of the troubles in the RMG factories on flimsy grounds was demanded by them to address the problems at its source. Actions on this line should come at the earliest to protect the country's premier economic sector. Genuine workers with a stake in their job and earnings, can have no interest in physically damaging their source of sustenance by tearing the same down. Workers' grievances under all situations must be dealt with, under the laws of the land and the mechanisms of collective bargaining. This is the only universally recognised method and anything else is unlawful. But no unlawful activities should be abetted.
As for the RMG owners and operators, they should also take a long view of their security not only in terms of law and order but also in giving prompt attention to market diversification to face any situation of deepening recession in the traditional buying countries. They will need to make sustained efforts for exploring further the ways and means of cost reduction, training up of more skilled workers whose supply seem to be declining, increasing workers' productivity through training, employing more efficient production methods, etc. On its part, the government should take every step to help improve supply of power and gas to RMG industries, streamline port operations and enhance the productivity of the sector. Such measures, if taken in earnest, will be found very helpful by the RMG industries.