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BGMEA seeks support to educate workers, owners on trade union

Star Business Report
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association yesterday sought support from development partners to educate workers, management and factory owners about the role of trade unions.
BGMEA President Atiqul Islam said: "We have to keep in mind that those who are forming trade unions are aged between 20 years and 30 years. They are new blood and don’t know what the definition of trade unions is.”
' It's a very vulnerable situation," he said at a seminar at the Westin Dhaka.
Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised the event on SAP (Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing), a world leader in enterprise solution. SAP AG, a German company, has made the enterprise software to help manage business operations and customer relations.
"We and our mid-level management also need to get trained on trade unions. Otherwise, the sector will not survive," Islam said. "We welcome any kind of legal and constructive trade unions."
The BGMEA chief backed technological upgradation, saying industries need this type of solution to overcome many of its challenges.
"We need to reduce wastages to remain competitive and increase our efficiency."
He said there were only six trade unions in the country three months ago. But their number now stands at 40.
The organisers said SAP solutions could help businesses integrate and automate their manufacturing, supply chain, sales and financial process at affordable prices.
Albrecht Conze, German ambassador to Bangladesh, said the SAP answers the needs of Bangladesh's familybased companies and conglomerates.
"To address the current challenges of the readymade garment sector, Bangladesh is now in a stage where it has to do something and act very, very quickly to restore its reputation."
Ghulam Hussain, chairman of National Board of Revenue, said Bangladeshi companies would have to be
compliant from the very first day of their operation. Otherwise, they will notsurvive.
"Being compliant involves some cost, but in the longterm it makes you efficient. Your cost of production will go down when the efficiency level goes up."
Sakhawat Abu Khair, president of the Bangladesh German Chamber, urged the garment factory owners to reach a solution on the minimum wage issue as quickly as possible to save the sector from the current round of unrest.
"We should have a long-term strategy on the minimum wage. It will tell the workers how much wages would be increased and when. It will cut the number of unrest in the industry."
Daniel Seidl, executive director of the chamber, also spoke among others.