Industry sources claim that as temperatures rise to record highs, the oppressive heatwave is having a negative impact on factory output and a reduction in the number of workers nationwide. Factory owners take the initiative to provide workplace comfort.
Amid declining worker attendance, industries such as garments, cement, and steel are grappling with reduced capacity. There has been a notable decrease in worker attendance, estimated at 10 to 15 per cent, with workers reporting health problems made worse by the intense heat.
Factory owners note a staggering 50 per cent decline in labour productivity. Additionally, production faces interruptions of up to five hours daily, further deteriorated by power outages.
Regarding this BGMEA President SM Mannan Kochi demonstrated that despite the rising temperatures due to the heatwave, garment factories consistently maintain cooler environments compared to the outdoors.
He continued to state that every factory has setups like exhaust fans to remove heated air and enough fans to guarantee ventilation.
Additionally, he mentioned that manufacturers with LEED certification have an advantage over others in terms of keeping colder environments. This benefit results from their large amount of open space on the floor and improved ventilation systems inside their building.
Kochi additionally stated that the BGMEA has already sent out a circular to all of its members instructing them to take action following government health policy to make our workers more comfortable.
According to officials from production departments at several factories, such as Shams Attires Limited and The Rose Ltd in Ashulia, and Debonair Group in Gazipur, despite the high temperatures outside due to the heatwave, the working environment inside the factories remains normal, thanks to the presence of sufficient exhaust fans, ceiling fans, and other cooling systems.
They also mentioned that the current heatwave hasn’t caused any production disruptions at any of these factories.
