Business

Bangladesh Garment Workers Return To Work Amid Lockdown

Thousands of textile workers, desperate for money, resume work at about 1,000 factories that reopened last week. Thousands of textile workers have returned to work in factories in Bangladesh amid a nationwide coronavirus lockdown, raising fears of an increase in the spread of the contagion. Factories in the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong reopened last week, after being permitted to resume work. The country's garment factories had closed in late March but under pressure from retailers to fulfill outstanding export orders, many resumed their operations, despite a nationwide lockdown in place until May 5. Garment forms 80% of the South Asian nation's total annual exports, and the country is expected to lose export revenue of about US$ 6 billion this fiscal year as the sector has been hit by cancellations from some of the world's largest brands and retailers. "The garment workers are in a precarious situation," said Chowdhury. "They are worried about the coronavirus and their safety, yet at the same time, they know if they don't join they will be laid off. They need salaries." As of Monday, Bangladesh reported more than 5,900 confirmed coronavirus infections and 152 deaths. Labour rights activists said they were afraid the return to work could lead to an explosion of Covid-19 cases. More than four million people work in thousands of garment factories across Bangladesh, which last year shipped apparel worth US$ 35 billion to some of the world's leading retailers, such as H&M, Inditex and Walmart. "We have to accept coronavirus as part of life. If we don't open factories, there will be economic crisis," said Mohammad Hatem, the vice president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association. Last month, the government announced a US$ 588 million package for the crucial export-oriented sector to pay its workers, but garment manufacturers say funds were not enough to mitigate the crisis. Textile and apparel workers have been protesting in recent weeks to demand wages lost during the lockdown. A nationwide lockdown is in place until May 5, but protesters said they would continue to violate the ban on movement if their demands were not met.