Editorial
News like this gives a leap of the mind
Russia hiring our textile workers
JUST take a pause and think of the impregnable stature our garment sector has reached in recent times defying daunting odds. Pitted against the storms of post-MFA challenge, internal political turbulence, closure of factories, labour unrest over minimum wages and poor working conditions, the sector has evolved into a reputable state worthy of attention in newer areas of the world. The credit goes to 2.5 million skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers in woven, knit wear and textile sectors, of whom remarkably 80 percent are women.
What stands out is the upward curve of Russia's interest in our garment sector illustrated currently by the country's express intent to import Bangladeshi textile workers. The Russian company Visozstoy has hired the first batch of 60 skilled employees from Bangladesh flying to the country in a couple of months. So far the country has been looked upon as a potential importer of our RMG products, and importantly, Russian buyers every year outsourced a significant number of garment products to Bangladesh.
While we are heartened by this opening for employment of Bangladeshi garment workers in Russia, perhaps as a precursor of more to come, we must also be aware of the fuller implications of the break our garment employees are getting. A balance will have to be struck between projected demands for skilled workers of our garment industry and their potential demands overseas. We would like to make two concrete suggestions: first, let the government finance growth of apparel, design and fashion training institutes in the country's private sector. Such training should be linked to use of latest machinery and equipment. Secondly, the salary, working conditions, service security structures in the country will have to be more or less comparable to the decent standards offered abroad. Otherwise our garment industries might see exodus of skilled personnel abroad.
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