Category: General

Govt’s clarion call to save garment industry
6/5/2014/Financial Express

The government Sunday made a clarion call to owners, workers and the people to come forward to help save the garment industry from an orchestrated ‘plot’ which is designed to destroy the country’s main export sector, reports UNB.
“An envious quarter having nexus at home and abroad is making sinister efforts to destroy this industry,” the government said in a handout, issued in the wake of unrelenting acts of violence at the garment factories that led to closure of all the units in Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) Read more about Govt's clarion call to save garment industry …

Red alert in Savar EPZ
Decision to amend the Wage Board for garment workers
6/5/2014/Financial Express

A tripartite meeting of the government, garment workers and the garment manufacturers decided Sunday to amend the Wage Board formed earlier for the garment workers, reports UNB.
As per a decision of the meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat with State Minister for Labour and Employment Amanullah Aman, the government will withdraw Nazma Akhtar from the Wage Board.
Earlier, Nazma Akhtar, a representative of a faction of the garment workers, was appointed as a member of the Wage Board. Read more about Decision to amend the Wage Board for garment workers …

Fresh violence, 100 hurt, ministers confined: Garment factories shut down at DEPZ
News From Bangladesh
Sunday June 04 2014 09:50:01 AM BDT

Thousands of agitated garment workers went on rampage again on the garment factories in the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) at Savar area yesterday forcing the foreign and local investors to close down their establishments. (New Nation)

The workers also put up barricades at different points, including Jamgara point on Ashulia-Nabinagar road. They also damaged several factories Read more about Fresh violence, 100 hurt, ministers confined: Garment factories shut down at DEPZ …

Antara, Indonesia
akarta, (ANTARA News) – Domestic demand for textiles and garments fell 27 percent in the first quarter of 2014 due to high inflation resulting in a decline in the people`s purchasing power, an executive said.
Read more about Domestic demand for textiles falls 27 Pct …

Business Standard, India
BS Reporter / Chennai/ Bangalore June 3, 2014, 4:14 IST
After the rising Rupee hit the Indian textile industry, it is now inflation and the rising input costs that are haunting the industry that is facing stiff competition from conutries like China, Vietnam, Combodia and Sri Lanka.
Read more about After Rupee woes, textile industry wary of inflation …

Lehigh Valley garment workers on picket line
Washington Observer Reporter, PA
Associated Press

EASTON – About 500 garment workers from three Northampton County manufacturers hit the picket lines in what labor officials said is the industry’s largest strike in the Lehigh Valley in 50 years.

“They want to change our health care and we can’t afford what they’re offering us,” said Noreen Vanbilliard, who has worked for one of the three affected manufacturers, A&H Sportswear, for 25 years. “We need better wages, raises and better health care.” Read more about Lehigh Valley garment workers on picket line …

Garment warehouse gutted by fire
THEERAWAT KHAMTHITA
Bangkok Post, Thailand

Chiang Rai _ A fire swept through a garment warehouse in Muang district yesterday, causing around 20 million baht in damage. There were no reports of casualties in the blaze that broke out around 3.45am at Sudsiam Karntor, also known as the Chiang Rai Northern Garment factory, in the Doi Saket community of Chiang Rai municipal area.

It took firefighters one hour to bring the blaze under control Read more about Garment warehouse gutted by fire …

CNMI senator says wage hike not to blame for collapse in garment industry
Radio New Zealand International, New Zealand

Posted at 18:54 on 03 June, 2014 UTC
A senator in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas says the federal minimum wage rise can’t be blamed for the expected collapse of the garment industry, whose workers earn the bare minimum.
She says she supports moves by the U.S. Congress to raise the U.S minimum wage from $3.05 an hour to $7.25.
In CNMI, the minimum wage will increase by 50 cents in two months and 50 cents every year following until local wages have reached the federal wage rate. Read more about CNMI senator says wage hike not to blame for collapse in garment industry …

Xinhua, China
www.chinaview.cn 2014-06-03 00:34:29 Print

DHAKA, June 2 (Xinhua) — The Bangladeshi caretaker government is to take stern action from August 1 against owners of garment factories who failed to implement compliance issues like providing minimum wage to workers.
Read more about Bangladesh implementing minimum wage in garment industry …

Renewed RMG labour unrest at DEPZ
Two foreigners among 25 injured as garment workers continue agitation
Independent-Bangladesh, Bangladesh

STAFF REPORTER
Labour unrest at Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) at Savar continued for the second consecutive day yesterday. Agitating workers of a garment factory demanding salary hike, job security, night transports for female staff, etc attacked the pro-management employees leaving at least 25 including two foreigners injured. Several rooms of the garment factory, Lemi Fashion Ltd, were also ransacked by the unruly workers.

Following the disturbance at DEPZ during the last two days’ eight garment factories were declared closed by the management Read more about Renewed RMG labour unrest at DEPZ …