Close on heels of the Bangladesh Government proposing a Taka 50 billion Coronavirus bailout fund to help export-oriented industries, including the readymade garment sector, pay the workers’ wages, the apparel accessory manufacturers of the country have now sought their inclusion in the proposed bailout package or be allocated a separate fund to help the accessory makers tide over the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak.
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“Due to Coronavirus pandemic, we are equally financially affected. The World economy as well as Bangladesh are facing host of challenges especially the apparel manufacturing sector, which is under threat due to order cancellations by the foreign buyers,” maintained the President of the Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) Abdul Kader Khan in a statement.
With buyers’ cancelling or withholding garment export orders, accessory makers are also dealt similarly by the apparel exporters, alleged Abdul, adding that as such like the RMG sector, without financial assistance of the Government, it is quite impossible for the accessory makers to pay the workers’ wages.
The BGAPMEA President expressed hope that the Government would extend help to the accessory makers by declaring a separate fund for them or including them in the Taka 50 billion bailout package.
