Bangladesh faced a crippling 37 percent tariff on its exports to the US.
Bangladesh’s RMG sector has improved, but challenges in wages and rights remain.
Bangladesh faces a critical decision: recalibrate its economy towards inclusivity and sustainability.
Bangladesh is at a critical crossroads in its energy policy.
Garment exports by Bangladesh’s market rivals like India, Vietnam, China and Cambodia have increased to major Western markets due mainly to the latest spell of labour unrest and political changeover earlier in August in the country.
After more than a month of disruption due to the political changeover and subsequent labour unrest in major industrial belts, international apparel retailers and brands are returning to Bangladesh with work orders for upcoming seasons.
In light of the recent development in the RMG sector, where factories have started to open, Taslima Akhter, president of Bangladesh Garment Sramik Samhati (BGWS), talks about the workers’ protest and their demands and plights in an interview with Aliza Rahman of The Daily Star.
International market prices declined mainly because of a fall in demand from end consumers suffering from high inflationary pressure due to the severe fallouts of Covid-19 and Russia-Ukraine war.
Despite facing one of the highest tariff rates, Bangladesh is the third-largest apparel exporter to markets in the US because of its efforts to improve working conditions, end forced labour, stamp out counterfeits, and provide safe and high-quality products to American consumers, said the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) at a hearing recently.
As garment makers, we cannot afford to absorb all cost increases along the supply chain.
My biggest worry in this situation is for our RMG workers, who are among the most vulnerable parts in the global fashion supply chain.
Bangladesh will remain as the preferred sourcing destination for readymade garment (RMG) items well into the future as the country has substantially improved production facilities and on compliance with regulations over the last few years, said international clothing retailers and brands yesterday.
“Publicity is absolutely critical. A good PR story is infinitely more effective than a front page ad.” This quote is from Sir Richard Branson,
Bangladesh has sought the support of the United States for the country’s RMG sector, which has been badly hit by fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.
The Supreme Court upholds a High Court order that issued a ban on the inspection and training activities of Nirapon, an alliance of North American readymade garments (RMG) buyers in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is now home to the highest number of platinum rated garment factories in the world, which portrays the country’s strong footing in green production, a leader of the garment makers’ platform said yesterday.
In the ready-made garment (RMG) sector, 2018 will in many ways be viewed as the end of an era. The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, the North American-led initiative which has done so much to improve worker safety in garment export factories, will shortly end operations in Bangladesh.
The ready-made garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh has enjoyed rapid growth, with the country now well established as the world's second largest supplier of apparel and with the industry accounting for 83 percent of Bangladesh's exports, employing some 4.4 million people.
Workers of readymade garment factories yesterday staged demonstrations in Dhaka, rejecting the government's decision of fixing their minimum monthly wage at Tk 8,000.
