With more and more garment factories reopening every day, the deadly coronavirus appears to be spreading among workers in the industrial belts in Ashulia, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Chattogram. As of Monday, at least 58 workers from 35 garment factories got infected with the virus. The number of infected workers was 43 on Sunday. Earlier on April 28, two RMG workers tested positive for the virus just a couple of days after the factories started reopening. Around 1750 factories in different industrial belts across the country are running their operation, while most of the industries are not following the protective guidelines.
Experts said the factories were supposed to reopen in phases and zone-wise, not haphazardly, as decided at a high-profile meeting of government high-ups. But it did not happen and now we do not have any scope for closing the factories again because of economic reasons. Economists advised the workers to be more careful, and also suggested that the factory authorities should take more effective health-safety measures to curb the spread of the virus among staffers.
There is need for increased testing and treatment and the number of hospital beds for Covid-19 patients in the industrial belt. BGMEA has asked factory owners to run operations following the health protocols, such as measuring the body temperature of workers and keeping information on the health status of the staff. The government messed up the COVID-19 situation by reopening the garment factories. The garment owners breached the safety protocols in the industries and involved all workers to make up for the loss incurred by them due to the general holidays.
It was promised by the owners association that infected garment worker will receive adequate medical treatment at their cost. We know the workers cannot rely on the government for honest supervision. There will be serious quenches if coronavirus patients among garments die without consequence will widespread. We hope the lives of the garment workers are being taken seriously.
We are disturbed to know many garment workers have infected coronavirus after joining their work. That means BGMEA have to explain that despite all the necessary safety measures the workers got the deadly disease. They do not depend on government protection. They understand police action only. That will not work.
Experts said the factories were supposed to reopen in phases and zone-wise, not haphazardly, as decided at a high-profile meeting of government high-ups. But it did not happen and now we do not have any scope for closing the factories again because of economic reasons. Economists advised the workers to be more careful, and also suggested that the factory authorities should take more effective health-safety measures to curb the spread of the virus among staffers.
There is need for increased testing and treatment and the number of hospital beds for Covid-19 patients in the industrial belt. BGMEA has asked factory owners to run operations following the health protocols, such as measuring the body temperature of workers and keeping information on the health status of the staff. The government messed up the COVID-19 situation by reopening the garment factories. The garment owners breached the safety protocols in the industries and involved all workers to make up for the loss incurred by them due to the general holidays.
It was promised by the owners association that infected garment worker will receive adequate medical treatment at their cost. We know the workers cannot rely on the government for honest supervision. There will be serious quenches if coronavirus patients among garments die without consequence will widespread. We hope the lives of the garment workers are being taken seriously.
We are disturbed to know many garment workers have infected coronavirus after joining their work. That means BGMEA have to explain that despite all the necessary safety measures the workers got the deadly disease. They do not depend on government protection. They understand police action only. That will not work.
