Proposal for developing 'garment villages'
Md. Ashraf Hossain | Friday, 18 July 2008
The Financial Express, in its issue on July 09, 2008 reported that the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) had sent a proposal to the Ministry of Finance for setting up an exclusive zone for apparel industry at Munshiganj.
In general, localization of particular industrial units is considered advantageous for procuring raw materials, power, skilled manpower, spare parts, engineering workshop service, technical support from various suppliers, vendors, transport and so on. But in the present-day world, owing to labour unrest and motivated influence of political groups, turbulence in the industrial belt is common. The professionals nowadays do not recommend localization of labour-intensive industrial ventures.
In Bangladesh, we observe that in different areas where a good number of garment factories are located, labour trouble spreads from one factory to the others nearby. It is usual that a garment factory engages a large number of low-paid labourers. As a result, dissatisfaction spreads among the workers, leading to unrest over insignificant issues.
For doing specialized tasks at the knitwear and garments industries, skilled professionals are needed in the departments including production, quality control, commercial section, merchandising, fashion design etc. At the localized industries in the exclusive zones, the skilled and professional personnel demand higher compensations that lead to higher costs for production. It is nowadays observed that skilled and professional manpower in knit and garment industry has been demanding and getting higher compensation packages in Dhaka, Chittagong, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Comilla, where a huge number of knit and garments factories are concentrated. Setting up of the factories in these districts will only intensify the trend. So, if this trend continues, Bangladesh may lose the low cost advantage over its competitors.
On the other hand, the large numbers of unskilled workers employed in those industries are very poorly paid. In addition to this, when hundreds of labourers work in a particular place, providing their basic needs like housing, transport, education and health service becomes difficult and scarce. It becomes difficult to provide all these facilities within a short time, which also causes unrest. In the Dhaka, Chittagong, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Comilla districts, there is already a heavy concentration of garment factories. This development is causing a social problem. At the same time, we cannot also underestimate the positive contribution of knit and garments industries as they earn foreign currency and generate employment. Creation of employment for a large number of unskilled workers and youths with general education is the contribution of these industries to society.
Labour intensive industrial units should be set up at different locations where other infrastructure facilities are available. Against this backdrop, it is better to develop several small villages instead of a large garment village. Setting up of new garments and knit factories or expansion of the existing ones in Dhaka, Chittagong, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Comilla districts has to be discouraged. A large number of factories in those districts have been causing various social problems.
Question may rise, should we not develop the garments and knit industries further? Of course, we must. Infrastructure facilities for setting up of labour-intensive and low technology-based industries are more or less available in Tangail, Narshigndi, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Kishoreganj, Sirajganj, Feni and Cox's Bazar districts. Small garments villages for knit and garments factories should be developed in those districts. Little improvement of the available infrastructure will be good enough. Each of the villages may be developed so as to accommodate 50 to 100 factories. A large number of low-cost but unskilled labourers are available in those districts. It would facilitate production at low cost for the owners of garments and knitwear factories. Professionals with general education are also available in exchange for reasonable compensation packages.
As a result of setting up of new factories, the socio-economic condition of those districts will improve and it will be relatively easier to fulfil the basic needs of the people who would find work in those newly developed garment villages. The government should perform its role in such a fashion that it will facilitate employment generation in different parts of the country. In order to create job opportunities in different districts, the government should develop many small garment villages there. The estates under the Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) may be utilized to develop such garment villages. The employees of the new factories will increase demand for food, shelter, education, health service, and other services, which will go to increase the income of the producers, traders and service providers concerned. As a result, the economy of the localities concerned will receive a boost.
In view of the above considerations, the government should develop several small garment villages in different districts and discourage further expansion of the same in those districts where a good umber of factories is already there.
(The writer is Astt. General Manager, R M Group of Industry)
In general, localization of particular industrial units is considered advantageous for procuring raw materials, power, skilled manpower, spare parts, engineering workshop service, technical support from various suppliers, vendors, transport and so on. But in the present-day world, owing to labour unrest and motivated influence of political groups, turbulence in the industrial belt is common. The professionals nowadays do not recommend localization of labour-intensive industrial ventures.
In Bangladesh, we observe that in different areas where a good number of garment factories are located, labour trouble spreads from one factory to the others nearby. It is usual that a garment factory engages a large number of low-paid labourers. As a result, dissatisfaction spreads among the workers, leading to unrest over insignificant issues.
For doing specialized tasks at the knitwear and garments industries, skilled professionals are needed in the departments including production, quality control, commercial section, merchandising, fashion design etc. At the localized industries in the exclusive zones, the skilled and professional personnel demand higher compensations that lead to higher costs for production. It is nowadays observed that skilled and professional manpower in knit and garment industry has been demanding and getting higher compensation packages in Dhaka, Chittagong, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Comilla, where a huge number of knit and garments factories are concentrated. Setting up of the factories in these districts will only intensify the trend. So, if this trend continues, Bangladesh may lose the low cost advantage over its competitors.
On the other hand, the large numbers of unskilled workers employed in those industries are very poorly paid. In addition to this, when hundreds of labourers work in a particular place, providing their basic needs like housing, transport, education and health service becomes difficult and scarce. It becomes difficult to provide all these facilities within a short time, which also causes unrest. In the Dhaka, Chittagong, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Comilla districts, there is already a heavy concentration of garment factories. This development is causing a social problem. At the same time, we cannot also underestimate the positive contribution of knit and garments industries as they earn foreign currency and generate employment. Creation of employment for a large number of unskilled workers and youths with general education is the contribution of these industries to society.
Labour intensive industrial units should be set up at different locations where other infrastructure facilities are available. Against this backdrop, it is better to develop several small villages instead of a large garment village. Setting up of new garments and knit factories or expansion of the existing ones in Dhaka, Chittagong, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Comilla districts has to be discouraged. A large number of factories in those districts have been causing various social problems.
Question may rise, should we not develop the garments and knit industries further? Of course, we must. Infrastructure facilities for setting up of labour-intensive and low technology-based industries are more or less available in Tangail, Narshigndi, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Kishoreganj, Sirajganj, Feni and Cox's Bazar districts. Small garments villages for knit and garments factories should be developed in those districts. Little improvement of the available infrastructure will be good enough. Each of the villages may be developed so as to accommodate 50 to 100 factories. A large number of low-cost but unskilled labourers are available in those districts. It would facilitate production at low cost for the owners of garments and knitwear factories. Professionals with general education are also available in exchange for reasonable compensation packages.
As a result of setting up of new factories, the socio-economic condition of those districts will improve and it will be relatively easier to fulfil the basic needs of the people who would find work in those newly developed garment villages. The government should perform its role in such a fashion that it will facilitate employment generation in different parts of the country. In order to create job opportunities in different districts, the government should develop many small garment villages there. The estates under the Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) may be utilized to develop such garment villages. The employees of the new factories will increase demand for food, shelter, education, health service, and other services, which will go to increase the income of the producers, traders and service providers concerned. As a result, the economy of the localities concerned will receive a boost.
In view of the above considerations, the government should develop several small garment villages in different districts and discourage further expansion of the same in those districts where a good umber of factories is already there.
(The writer is Astt. General Manager, R M Group of Industry)