As of 9 July 2020, 29,369 workers, mostly employed in the apparel manufacturing sector of the country, have lost their jobs, since Eid-ul-Fitr.
This is as per the figures collated by the Industrial Police (IP) from around 165 industrial units spread across six industrial zones that are under the jurisdiction of the IP.
Of the total number of retrenched workers, 21,557 are from RMG and textile units which are associated with/members of the three apex trade bodies associated with apparel manufacturing sector.
The three entities are Bangladesh Textile Mills Association(BTMA), the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
However, as per labour leaders, the number workers who have lost their jobs on account of the coronavirus pandemic is much higher with some putting the number to more than a lakh.
Also, that a good number of industrial units are outside the industrial zones and have not been considered while collating the data, means the actual numbers could be way too high, they claimed.
Meanwhile, even as the number of retrenched workers keeps rising, experts warned of a negative impact on the society, as many workers are now faced with uncertainity and hardships in terms of arranging for food, education and treatment of family members, they felt.
Opining on the issue, the Executive Director of South Asian Network on Economic Modelling (SANEM), Selim Raihan, has underlined in case of retrenched workers unable to get alternative source of job, such a situation could lead to social instability.
The SANEM Executive Director hence called upon factory owners to figure out other ways of cost cutting without worker retrenchment while calling upon the Government to work out a mechanism to ensure survival of the jobless workers.
He also urged the Government to bring these workers under the social protection net.