Bangladesh revitalizes garment industry

Recently, HSBC released a trade forecast report stating that Bangladesh’s textile and apparel export growth rate will increase from 2.8% in 2010 to 3.8% in 2020. Bangladesh’s apparel exports will continue to grow over the next 10 years.
It has been a year and a half since several garment factories collapsed in Savar Town, a suburb of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. More than 1,100 workers were killed and the factory’s poor safety protection measures have raised questions about the country’s production safety and safety. There are endless comments about the development prospects of the industry, and safety issues in the country’s factories have also had a negative impact on the development of its garment industry. The Bangladesh government recently stated that in response to this situation, Bangladesh’s textile and garment factories have introduced new laws and regulations to strengthen the safety regulations and standards of garment factories, which will help strengthen Bangladesh’s establishment of cooperative relationships with international buyers and promote the industry Expand production. Since December 2013, factories have increased the minimum wage for garment workers by 77%. Although this has increased business costs, industry insiders expect that Bangladesh’s garment industry will still remain competitive in the global market.
​Adopt fire protection and construction standards to guide production
Recently, the Bangladesh Workers Safety Alliance and the National Fire Protection Association of Bangladesh (NFPA) signed a cooperation agreement to guide Bangladesh’s garment factories to adopt best practices and building and fire safety data widely used around the world. The highest standards guide daily production. The agreement will provide various guidance and training information to member organizations of the Bangladesh Workers Safety Alliance and garment factories in Bangladesh, which will help protect the safety and health of Bangladeshi garment factory workers. Important elements of this collaboration include: raising the National Fire Protection Association’s regulatory standards and awareness of Bangladesh’s ready-to-wear garment sector; expanding training and education for garment manufacturing workers through effective guidance on fire protection and electrical system safe operation projects, and providing hazardous Information alerts help employees recognize and prevent hazards in the workplace.
Alliance committee chair Ellen Tauscher said executive team representatives from each organization will develop an action plan that identifies work procedures and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of participants. Members of the Worker Safety Alliance and the National Fire Protection Association will meet at least once a year to share and communicate progress in garment factory safety. He pointed out, “The Bangladesh Workers Safety Alliance and the Bangladesh National Fire Protection Association will work together to ensure that our member garment factories can receive strict and standardized guidance to ensure the smooth start of work in garment factories.”
​Open and transparent factory safety inspection results
“Regular inspections of garment factories and transparent disclosure of inspection results are essential to sustaining lasting factory safety reforms.” Mesbah Rabin, President of the Bangladesh Workers Safety Alliance, on his report on Bangladesh The garment factory safety opinion points out, “Now, Bangladesh, including the government, garment industry, social organizations and even the world’s famous garment brands, must form a broader consensus than ever before and should unanimously invest in higher standards for the garment industry. Inspection work in progress.
The Bangladesh Worker Safety Alliance is composed of representatives from some North American retailers and manufacturers, aiming to create a better and safer working environment for garment workers in Bangladesh. The alliance includes 26 well-known retailers such as Carter’s, The Children’s Place, Costco Wholesale, Macy’s, Target, and Wal-Mart Stores. wait. Mesbah Rabin said, “In its first year, the Alliance has made tremendous progress in improving the safety environment for workers in Bangladesh’s garment factories. In July this year, we completed 100% inspections of all 587 factories. . We recommended that 14 factories be fully or partially closed, and 50% of the factories are now undergoing rehabilitation for safe environments. The Worker Safety Alliance provides compensation for workers displaced by the rehabilitation of garment factories, including payments to workers for up to 4 months 50% of the monthly salary is compensated, and the other 50% is provided by the factory owners.” Rabin said that currently, the alliance has completed safety training for more than one million Bangladeshi workers and managers, and has provided workers with Launched a secure, anonymous hotline that allows workers to report safety-related issues at the factory without fear of retaliation. “We also successfully advocated for the Bangladesh government to reduce import duties on fire safety equipment, so that factory owners in the country can afford to import safety equipment. In September this year, we signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) of the United States , which can provide information, guidance and training resources to alliance members, factories and workers, hoping to help them maintain the health and safety of Bangladeshi garment workers,” Rabin said.
​Building special economic zones will help the development of the garment industry
At the Bangladesh Textile and Apparel Forum “Bangladesh TexApp” held recently in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, Zahid Hussain, chief economist of the World Bank’s Dhaka office, said that the construction of special economic zones will help the development of Bangladesh’s garment sector. growth, ���For example, the construction of special economic zones can effectively address the challenges posed by the country’s poor infrastructure. Moreover, long-term political stability is necessary for continued growth in apparel exports.
“Bangladesh TexApp” was held during the 15th Bangladesh TexTech International Expo 2014. Some international retailers, machinery suppliers, political representatives and entrepreneurs participated in the forum. The forum discussed relevant issues affecting the development of Bangladesh’s garment industry and also explored how to drive the industry further forward in the coming years. At the forum, Atiqul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturing and Export Association (BGMEA), said that the basic garment sector no longer requires foreign investment, but downstream industries welcome foreign investment.
​Industry trade confidence index increased by 11%
According to the forecast report of HSBC, in the first five months of 2014, Bangladesh’s garment exports increased by 11.7% year-on-year, of which nearly two-thirds were exported to the United States and the European Union. Ready-made garment exports account for 80% of Bangladesh’s total merchandise exports, and its export value is greater than that of India. Bangladesh’s trade confidence index also rose from 103 in the second half of 2013 to 141 in the first half of 2014, ranking second in the forecast report of 25 countries compiled by HSBC.
Reports show that in 2013, nearly half of Bangladesh’s textile and clothing exports were exported to Europe, and one-third was exported to the United States. The European Union is Bangladesh’s largest trading partner, and Bangladesh’s textile and apparel exports to the EU are still showing a steady growth momentum. The continued recovery of global demand will also help Bangladesh’s garment exports. Due to their geographical advantages, China, India, South Korea and Indonesia will become Bangladesh’s fastest growing import partners. Nonetheless, with rising demand from Western countries, the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom remain Bangladesh’s largest export markets and will remain so until 2030.