32,582 RMG workers lose jobs as 63 factories shut in 2019

32,582 RMG workers lose jobs as 63 factories shut in 2019

At least 63 factories having membership of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association were closed in 2019, rendering 32,582 RMG workers jobless.

Commerce minister Tipu Munshi, responding to a question of ruling Awami League reserved seat lawmaker Shamsun Nahar, made the discloser in his scripted answer in parliament on Wednesday.

He also said that 1,280 knitwear manufacturers under Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association did not renew their membership in the previous year.

As a result, he said, the authorities thought that the factories were no more functional and that the knitwear units might go to reproduction if they got work orders from the exporting countries.

Besides, expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment minister Imran Ahmad said that the government had taken programmes to create awareness among the people to ensure legal and safe migration for overseas employment.

He said that while responding to a question of treasury bench lawmaker M Faridul Haq Khan.

Under the initiatives, the government has released Tk 2,82,29,600 for holding seminars in division and upazila levels in 2019-20 fiscal year to aware people, he told the parliament.

In 2018-19, the government gave Tk 94.64 lakh for arrangement of such seminars across the country, he added.

Last year the seminars were held in 63 districts and 480 upazilas.

To ensure legal and safe migration, the minister said that the government was carrying out awareness seminars and press briefings to ensure proper overseas employment in legal way after infusing expertise development training, verifying the work permit and safe migration through the registered recruiting agencies.