The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has reportedly projected that export earning from the sector may reach the range of twenty-five billion dollars in the next five years. It will also ensure the employment of over two million workers. In order to achieve these goals, manufacturers of garment products have to take measures for facing competition from other countries like China, India, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam. The availability of skilled manpower has to be ensured by making use of the Technical Training Centres in the country. Dedicated professionals in the field may have to be employed as faculty members in those training centres. Both short-term and long-term courses of training should be introduced for the development of skilled workforce.

The growth of the garment sector and higher export earnings from it will depend upon unhindered production and the price at which garments may be exported. Law and order situation has to be made favourable to production. The practice of the workers and their trade unions to resort to repeated strikes has to be stopped. The needs of workers, including payment of wages on time, have to be kept uppermost in the mind of the owners of factories.

Skills development of the workers, mainly the women workers, has to be achieved for the industry to remain competitive. The on-going recession might lead to contraction of demand in the RMG importing countries where consumers may opt for cheaper products.The government should support the garment manufacturers and exporters in their efforts to keep the prices of their products low not by compromising quality but by increasing efficiency of the production process. Fiscal policy support may also be extended to this largest export earning sector of the country.