The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has proposed that the government form a special taskforce to ensure coordination among the ministries and departments in adopting and implementing necessary policies to protect the interest of the country’s apparel sector.

BGMEA president Rubana Huq on Wednesday made the proposal in a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office principal secretary Ahmad Kaikaus.

As per the proposal of the trade body, the taskforce to be led by the principal secretary to the PMO would include representatives from commerce, labour and foreign ministries, the BGMEA and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

According to the sources, Rubana in the letter requested Kaikaus to form the taskforce to ensure inter-ministerial coordination for speedy implementation of the urgent and long-term sector-related measures.

In the letter, the BGMEA demanded policy support to set up plants for artificial fibre to remain competitive in the global market.

Rubana also requested the principal secretary to introduce ‘prevailing wage’ instead of the minimum wage and to ensure balance between wage and skill.

The BGMEA president expressed her interest to work for the publicity, geographical indication, patent, copyright and export of ‘Mujib Coat’.

The RMG sector trade body also demanded introducing a RMG foreign currency realisation programme to provide additional Tk 5 against per US dollar on local value addition and offering 0.25 per cent source tax with retrospective effect from July 1, 2019. The trade body also demanded exemption of loans with interest amounting to Tk 6.49 billion of 133 sick RMG factories.

Published On : 09-01-2020

Source : Newage Business