The Government of Bangladesh has temporarily shutdown 18 garment manufacturing factories on the grounds of inacceptable labour standards and working conditions, Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui informed reporters. While two of the closed apparel units are in Chittagong, the remaining 16 are in Dhaka.
Government authorities in Bangladesh have recently initiated steps to improve the sub-standard labour and working conditions in the garment factories, as directed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Earlier, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) had ordered 32 garment manufacturing factories to shutdown, until they submit a report from engineers after they have thoroughly inspected the industrial units. Sixteen of these factories are among those that are temporarily shutdown.
Based on the report from the engineers, the Government woul take a decision regarding the permanent closure or operation of the said factories.
Meanwhile, a Government committee, headed by Mr. Siddiqui, has begun inspecting the health and safety and work conditions at readymade garment manufacturing units. The committee will inspect 100 garment factories in the coming weeks and submit a report to the Prime Minister within three months.
he new measures are being taken by the Bangladesh Government after the collapse of the Rana Plaza building that housed five garment units on April 24, which caused the death of more than 900 people.
