Pay wages properly

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the garment factory owners to pay the wages properly to improve the workers' standard of living.

Terming the workers the driving force of a factory, the PM also asked the owners to investigate the causes of frequent labour unrest in the sector.

"The government will not tolerate anarchism in garment sector as this is the main source of foreign currency," said Hasina.

"The recent labour unrest was instigated by conspirators," the PM said.

She advised the owners to construct dormitories for workers to ensure their shelter.

"The factory owners can take assistance from government's housing fund to build the dormitories. The fund would claim only one percent service charge," the PM said.

The prime minister was speaking as the chief guest at "5th Knitexpo-09", the largest annual event of the knitwear manufacturers and exporters, at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

She also asked the manufacturers and exporters to produce apparels as the market demands and skilled manpower for maintaining standard.

"We are planning to open foreign missions to explore possible markets for Bangladeshi products," Hasina said, adding that the government will extend all out cooperation to businessmen to build a better economy.

Hasina said we need to explore new export destinations like Japan, Middle East and South Africa to become competitive in the global apparel market.

According to the plan Narayanganj, an industrially crowded area, will be linked with the proposed elevated expressway from airport so that the international buyers can easily go there and its adjacent areas for business, she said.

"Please don't worry or make us worried. Try to take advantages of the global recession," the PM said.

She also advised the owners to install solar power plants. The government will soon solve the problem of gas supply, she said, adding that the government has a plan to produce 4,110 megawatt more electricity within 2013 to meet the country's growing power demand.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith as the special guest said the apparel sector might be having difficulties in power supply, bank interest rate and maintaining law and order.

"Despite all those difficulties the sector is doing good by employing 3.5 million workers. Hence, the government is ready to support the sector," said Muhith.

Fazlul Hoque, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and the organiser of the exhibition, said this year a record 153 registered buyers from different countries participated in the three-day fair.

"A special aspect of the exhibition is that 52 buyers and investors from Japan has attended the exhibition," he said.

He said the apparel sector needs financial support from the government while the owners are trying hard to cope up with the global economic meltdown.

"We need adequate supply of gas and power. We also need to recover the lost market and find out new export destinations," Hoque said.

Commerce Minister Faruk Khan and Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, among others, spoke at the inaugural session of the exhibition.