Bangladesh garment industry has suffered a loss of around US $ 50 million due to recent protests by garment workers. It has also raised concerns with national and international stakeholders. This has been stated by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), which has claimed that the strikes were illegal under the Bangladesh Labour Law 2006 – Section.
Garment industry is considered as backbone of Bangladesh’s economy which was hit hard due to protests by labourers seeking raise in wages. Many garment workers were sacked and more than 30 union leaders and workers have been arrested and detained over false allegations connected to demonstrations over low wages in the country.
Also Read – Global protest for release of Bangladeshi garment workers
Further to this, demonstrations were organized globally by the union federations UNI and IndustriALL seeking immediate release of arrested Bangladesh garment workers. The federations held protests in front of Bangladesh embassies and consulates around the world.
In the backdrop of crackdown, famous apparel brands including H&M, Inditex, C&A and Tchibo, which are currently sourcing apparels from the country in huge volumes, have reportedly decided to skip the upcoming Dhaka Apparel Summit to be held on February 25. This is seen as a major setback for the RMG sector which is aiming to achieve US $ 50 billion in export in the coming years.
