FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ’ s DESK …
Workers ’ prolonged wait for minimum wage hike sees light of day
The long-standing issue of workers ’ wage seems to have ultimately been sorted out after State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque recently declared that Taka 8,000 has been decided as the minimum wage for the 3.6 million labour force , to be implemented from December this year .
Amidst all the wrangling – workers ’ bodies and NGOs joining hands demanding Taka 12,000 as base wage , which many felt would put tremendous strain on the apparel makers , who are already under duress due to faltering price points – the Government ’ s move to decide on the minimum wage , I feel would bring back the sanity and order to the apparel sector , to carry on with business as usual .
According to what could be known , the basic pay in the Taka 8,000 minimum wage structure is Taka 4,100 . Further breakdown includes Taka 2,050 as house rent , Taka 600 as medical allowance , Taka 350 as transport allowance , and Taka 900 as food allowance . The new wage structure , I feel , while providing the workers the much-needed hike following the last one of 2013 , will also ensure that no extra burden is created on the entrepreneurs …, a win-win situation for all .
Keeping up with its pro-industry approach , the Government is also working towards ensuring continued trade privileges from its existing and new business partners to make sure that apparel sector and garment exports do not face the brunt once the country graduates to a developing nation from the current status of LDC . As per an estimate , due to LDC graduation , in terms of actual duty benefits , the loss will be the maximum in the EU , amounting to around US $ 2.035 billion . Other major losses in duty benefits will be in Canada amounting to US $ 188 million , Japan amounting to US $ 106.82 million , and China amounting to US $ 93 million .
As such , Bangladesh is going full throttle in pushing for FTAs . It already seems to have made a clear headway in garnering GSP status from Japan , with the latter reportedly assuring the former of continued dutyfree facility for imports . Even the EU , one of Bangladesh ’ s biggest trading partners , has reiterated its commitment to ensure tariff-free trade benefits post transition . As far as China is concerned , to improve trade facility and to export more apparel items , Bangladesh has already sought duty-free market access in China . In this regard , an MoU has already been signed between the two countries . Now the FTA probability process is underway . After completing all formalities , Bangladesh will sign the FTA with China .
Currently , China is Bangladesh ’ s second largest export destination among the Asian nations after Japan . As per media reports , Bangladesh is also pushing for an FTA with USA , more so as LDC transition is looming large .
Amidst all these positive developments , I am a little bit concerned about the ongoing green initiative in the industry , which seems to have lost some steam due to lack of fair / ethical pricing . Participating at a recent event , the owners of some green units categorically underlined that going green has not helped them where it really matters , that is generating revenue . It is no good news that the green drive , which has successfully helped the country counter its image crisis following Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashions fire and has helped restore the faith of global retailers , is losing its momentum … It ’ s high time that the stakeholders look into the issue to ensure that the good work is not undone !
EDITORIAL TEAM
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITOR DEPUTY EDITOR COPY EDITOR ASST . COPY EDITOR SUB EDITOR CREATIVE TEAM
PHOTO EDITOR OPERATION DIRECTOR
Deepak Mohindra Ila Saxena Deepankar Shyam Veereshwar Sobti Sahil Sehgal
Priyanka Mishra
Raj Kumar Chahal Peeush Jauhari Satyapal Bisht
Gaurav Naroola Mayank Mohindra
PUBLISHER & |
Renu Mohindra |
MANAGING DIRECTOR |
+ 919810058986 , 01964874405 |
rmohindra @ apparelresources . com |
COUNTRY OFFICE
Apparel Resources Private Limited Apartment B-2 , House No . 26 , Road 18 , Block A , Banani , Dhaka - 1213 , Bangladesh Phone : + 880 255035623
HEAD OFFICE
Apparel Resources Private Limited B-32 , South Extension-1 , New Delhi-110 049 ( India ) Phone : 91-11-47390000 , E-mail : editor @ apparelresources . com Web associate : www . apparelresources . com
SUBSCRIPTION RATE
Yes , I wish to subscribe to Apparel Online |
Taka 2400.00 |
12 issues |
* This rate is valid only for subscription in Bangladesh |
International subscription ( in Dollar ) - Credit Card using www . apparelresources . com Telegraphic transfer to Bank Account No . 03192320003806 ( Swift No : HDFCINBB ) with HDFC Bank , D-9 , South Extn . Part-2 , New Delhi-110049 . INDIA
SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRY
+ 8801842814616 amamun @ apparelresources . com
+ 8801611547143 mazumder @ apparelresources . com
subscribe @ apparelresources . com
ADVERTISEMENT AND GENERAL ENQUIRY
+ 8801842814616 amamun @ apparelresources . com
+ 919811088666 rani @ apparelresources . com
8 Apparel Online Bangladesh | October 2018 | www . apparelresources . com