Coping with the Coronavirus fallout has made the world bow to its knees! During such adverse times, countries are helping out each other.
In response to BGMEA President Dr. Rubana Huq’s video where she had requested the buyers not to cancel their orders, Gerd Muller, Germany’s Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, has assured that Bangladesh’s garment sector will have his country’s full support.
At the outspread of Coronavirus pandemic, apparel retailers and buying houses in the west began to cancel their work orders with Bangladeshi manufacturers.
The total value for work orders cancelled from 936 factories, reportedly, stood at US $ 2.58 billion as recorded yesterday before 6:00 pm, while it was US $ 2.25 billion the day before.
This also implies that work orders for about 800.18 million pieces of garment products have been cancelled so far, with uncertainties looming large over the lives of 1.92 million garment workers.
While it is obvious that in such crisis, the demand for apparel products, especially protective medical clothes changes, Germany is reevaluating some measures to keep the businesses running in both the nations.
Some of the companies in Germany’s garment sector reported even 70 per cent drop in consumer demand. What is frightening is the fact that almost a third of the country’s textile industry is under threat of total collapse.
Muller said “In response to your letter, I am informing you about my intent to pass your urgent request to the representatives of the German textile industry.”
BGMEA issued a notice saying member factories are continuing production and their head offices are also open to aid production and support workers. Garment factories are exempted from the purview of the Government declared general holiday.
However, the association urged companies to take adequate precautions if their factories are operational.
AKM Salim Osman, President, BKMEA, in a separate notice suggested member factories to shut down if they do not have enough work orders.