Several factory owners are planning to continue operations by trimming their workforces in a bid to offset the economic implications of the coronavirus crisis, according to the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments DIFE.
Shibnath Roy, inspector general of DIFE, urged factory owners to refrain from laying off workers, considering that the government has announced a massive stimulus package aimed at protecting of workers and the industry.
He wrote to representatives of the owner’s association regarding the matter on Friday.
With the holy month of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr looming, any dismissal now will make it very difficult for workers to lead their lives while aggravating the crisis wrought by the coronavirus outbreak which might be difficult to handle in future, he said.
“In view of the overall situation, factory owners are sincerely requested to stop cutting their workforces.”
Workers read a notice outside their garment factory in Gazipur’s Tongi as it is opening on Sunday amid the nationwide shutdown due to the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Asif Mahmud Ove
Emerging in China’s Wuhan in December, the
novel coronavirus rapidly transformed into a global pandemic shutting down cities and business across the world.
Bangladesh has seen a spike in cases in recent times, prompting a nationwide lockdown to contain the outbreak.
The global lockdown has dealt a major blow to Bangladesh’s apparel sector that accounts for more than 80% of exports, with about $3 billion worth of orders suspended or cancelled since March 20, according to garment exporters’ lobbying group BGMEA.
