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50000 child labourers in garments factories may lose jobs
Horrified by a forthcoming United States law that prohibits Import of goods produced with child labour, garment manufacturers here are planning to clean up low-age workers from their factories, reports UNB.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has already cautioned its members of the dire consequences of employing children In export-, oriented garment industry.
BGMEA has also set up a
committee to constantly monitor the situation.
As a result, about half a lakh child labourers may be Jobless.
The law titled "Child Labour Deterrence Act 1992" prescribes serious punitive measures against foreign industries using workers under the age of 15. Punishment might range up to elimination of US markets for those Industries.
According to the latest information, strong campaign is being carried out by the Industrial and labour lobbies in the
US Congress to let the law go through in the next Congress session. With Democrats coming Into power, prospect of its passage has become brighter.
Media campaign to mobilise support In favour of the law Is also reported. National Broadcasting Company (NBC), a leading Amcrtean television network, has recently telecast a programme focusing on the use and abuse of child labour in garment industry of Bangladesh.
"We are well aware of the
Impact of the ensuing US law and we are discouraging employment of children workers In the industry so that our industry does not feel crunch of it", said Md Mosharraf Hossain, the President of BGMEA.
Hossain and members of the garment community turned down the allegation of use of children in the country's garment industry.
Manufacturers claim that workers under the age of 15 may constitute maximum 5 per cent of the total 600,000
workforce tn the industry. Statistics of NGOs say the figure Is much higher.
"ifi a false and motivated campaign against the country . . . the Issue Is being overplayed by vested quarters to harm a tremendous prosjiective export industry of Bangladesh", the BGMEA President said.
Observers In the business circle foresee an immediate retrenchment of under-age workers from the garment sector as the garment people here will hardly take any risk
to be affected In the booming USA market by retaining any children workers.
About 52 per cent of export earnings from the garment sector come from the United Stales
Garment manufacturer* this time were found extremely cautious as there was several allegation In USA about Bangladesh's garment factories using and abusing child labour.
Although the US government ha* recently dismissed a S
petition by AFL-CIO. the most powerful American labour union, asking discontinuation of OSP facility to Bangladesh in view of use of child labour in Its garment Industry, the country Is under constant watch of the US government.
An AFL-CIO representative was recently in Dhaka to monitor the latest situation about use of child labour tn garment Industry here.
A dozen of leading garment manufacturers did not rule out the possibility of retrenchment of children workers.
Cautious estimates say some 40,000 to 50,000 low-age workers would be driven out of the garment tndustiy in such a probability, fuelling serious social problem In urban areas.