Within the continuous public holiday announced by the government, the export-oriented garment factories are going to be opened from Sunday in limited scale.
There are currently over a hundred factories producing masks and PPE. Factory owners will gradually reopen other factories in a limited scale from Sunday (April 26). BGMEA, BKMEA and BTMEA, an association of garment owners, did not issue any directive to close the factory during the public holiday announced by the government from April 26 to May 5.
The organizations were silent on the closure of the factory during another government-announced holiday. Besides, they are lobbying in different quarters of the government to open the factory.
Meanwhile, in a letter signed BGMEA President Dr. Rubana Haque, the garment owners were told that BGMEA had decided to reopen factories in limited scale on regional basis in compliance with the health regulations. Therefore, for the time being, it has been requested to work with the workers living around Dhaka. Workers who left for the villages were asked not to bring them.
When asked about the matter BGMEA President Rubana Haque declined to comment.
A message was posted on the BGMEA website on Saturday (April 25) asking members to open the factory. It said, ‘overall, BGMEA will directly advise you to open factories on zone basis in limited scale to keep the wheel of the economy moving. Earlier, members were also advised not to bring workers to Dhaka.
The message to the BGMEA members was clearly stated, "Start the factory with the workers who live near the factory."
The BGMEA message further said, "Members are being requested not to dismiss the workers for humanitarian reasons." The absent workers will be paid in April.
"As per the advice, I request you to strictly abide by the date of opening of the factory and the protocol," it said.
The message from the executive committee of BGMEA to the members said that in any case, if the workers move to Dhaka illegally without the support of anyone, it will not be possible for the members to cooperate with the organization.
Incidentally, the public holiday has been extended till May 5 after several extensions due to the corona virus. Public transport will also be closed till May 5. However, in the meantime, the news has come again that the workers are on way to save their jobs. Workers are being called from many factories over phone to join the work. In this context, this instruction of BGMEA has come.