'Operational manual' a must for RMG, textile companies to contain Covid-19

The RMG (ready-made garment) and textile companies should maintain 'operational manual' to contain the spread of COVID-19 among workers ahead of full resumption of production in the companies.
However, the companies' productions right now should also be resumed in a limited scale avoiding the workers' gathering amid the alarming spread of COVID-19, according to a leading entrepreneur.
"The listed RMG and textile companies having orders, placed by buyers, can resume operations in a limited scale. In that case, the factories should have an operational manual to save workers from the deadly infection of COVID-19", Azam J. Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Association of Publicly Listed Companies (BAPLC), told the FE on Tuesday.
Mr. Chowdhury said it will not be wise if the owners of listed textile and RMG companies call all workers at a time to resume operations.
"The scope of spreading COVID-19 among workers will be intensified if their safety is not prioritised while resuming operations at RMG and textile companies," the BAPLC president said.
On April 25, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), in a letter to the labour secretary, called for gradual reopening of the garment factories in industrial zones using a 30 per cent workforce in the first phase.
The BAPLC president said following the government's order, the energy companies are continuing operations with limited manpower maintaining social distances.
"But the nature of operations at RMG and textile companies is different from energy and power sector. That's why, the owners of RMG and textile units should ensure safe transports so that workers can reach the workplaces maintaining social distancing," the BAPLC president said.
Contacted, the officials of some listed textile companies said they have already resumed operations.
Some other companies said they have not yet resumed productions due to various reasons including limited scope of accommodation for workers amid ongoing lockdown enforced to contain spread of COVID-19. These companies also said they would resume operations soon.
The officials of Envoy Textiles said they reopened factory as they have the scope of ensuring social distances for their workers.
"Textile companies have huge spaces in their compounds. Workers are able to work maintaining sufficient distances at such type of factories," said Abdus Salam Murshedy, MP, managing director of Envoy Textiles.
He said their workers are also living in the factory premises in compliance with formalities required to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Asked, the officials of Regent Textile Mills said they have resumed operations amid ongoing public holiday.
"We have paid workers' salary for March. We are working to avail the facility announced by the government under the stimulus package," said an official of Regent Textile Mills.
Sohrab Ali, company secretary at Pacific Denims, said presently their company remained closed following the public holiday announced by the government to disperse public gathering.
"We have paid our workers' salary for March. We have no accommodation for workers who can stay near the workplace maintaining specific distances. That's why, we have not yet opened our factory," Mr. Ali said.
Asked, the officials of some listed companies said they have paid workers' salary for March and working to avail the facility of stimulus package announced by the government.
Corporate offices of many listed textile companies were found closed as no one received phone, while the telephone operators were found only at some other offices.
Contacted, the officials of Desh Garments and Esquire Knit & Composite said their factories still remain closed.
Textile sector is the largest one in terms of the number of listed companies. Presently, there are 56 companies listed under the sector of textile. Insurance sector is the second largest sector having 47 listed companies.

[email protected]