Garment owners want to keep factories open amid lockdown

GBNEWS24 DESK//

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) have said that they are ready to comply with any strict decision of the government to contain the transmission of deadly coronavirus variants.

However, leaders of both BGMEA and BKMEA want to keep their factories open complying with the health protocols to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

BKMEA’s First Vice President Mohammad Hatem said in a video message on Saturday that the Eid-ul-Azha festival is ahead. During the Eid, factory owners remain on pressure to pay salaries and festival bonuses to workers.

“It would not be possible to cope with the pressure if production at garment factories remains suspended,” he said.

Besides, he said the garment owners start receiving fresh work orders. Foreign buyers can move to other countries if factories remain closed right now. “So, we expect that it would a right decision if factories are allowed to keep open following the health guidelines,” he said.

Mohammad Hatem also said much of the risk of transmission also goes down if the factories are allowed to keep open.

In this regard, he said workers would remain free from the risk of transmission as long as they get involve in production, because strict health guidelines are followed inside the factories. If the factories are declared closed, workers may go their village homes, or leave for somewhere else.

“If workers scattered in such a way, the risk of coronavirus transmission increases manifold,” he said.

He also urged the government to allow keeping the garment factories open amid nationwide strict lockdown that begins on Monday morning to contain the risks of coronavirus transmission.