Crisis in Bangladesh’s Textile Industry! Workers Struggle for Salaries

During Sheikh Hasina's time, Bangladesh's garment industry was making a splash in the world. Be it Europe or America, orders from everywhere were received only by Bangladesh. But this garment industry, which is considered the backbone of Bangladesh's economy, is currently going through a severe economic crisis. The industry that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was proud of, today thousands of workers of the same industry are yearning for salary. The situation has become so bad that many workers did not get salary even on a big festival like Eid, due to which their festival became dull. This crisis can become a big opportunity for the Indian textile industry. India can take advantage of this opportunity to promote its garment industry.

According to the data of the Industrial Police, 122 textile factories have not yet paid their workers the salary for February, while the workers of 723 factories have not received their Eid bonus. There are 30 factories that have not even paid the salary for January or before that. According to the report of Dhaka Tribune, there is no money, so 422 factories have paid only half the salary for March. There is a provision in the labor laws of Bangladesh that wages should be paid by the 7th of the first day of the next month, but the factories are not able to fulfill this law as well, because they are facing a serious crisis.

Did not even get bonus

According to the data, 2,167 factories have already paid Eid-ul-Fitr bonus, but 723 factories have not been able to pay the bonus yet. Out of the 9,695 industrial factories in the country, 6,673 have paid Eid bonus, while in 7,860 or more than half of the factories, the salary for March is still pending.

Why did the condition of the garment industry deteriorate?

• Due to the recession in big markets like America and Europe, orders have decreased, due to which factories had to reduce production.

• The increase in the price of raw materials and fuel prices has increased the expenses of garment companies, due to which there is a problem in paying salaries.

• Workers went on strike several times against non-payment of salaries and poor working conditions, which further shocked the industry.

• Due to the strength of the dollar and the weakness of the Bangladeshi Taka, imports have become expensive and companies are facing financial crisis.