Response to BGMEA

Let me say at once, I do not have a prejudice against Bangladesh, its garment industry, or the BGMEA.  If I have been critical in the past, it was because in the past there was much to criticize:  something which I think we can all agree on.

My recent article in on LinkedIn was the result of an interview given by Ms. Huq the new president of BGMEA to Just Style on 20 September with the opening paragraph The head of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has blamed low prices paid by international brands and retailers as one of the reasons so many factories have closed down over the last year. In my opinion that statement was just one more step backwards

Any information in my article is based on either data from reliable sources or information from senior people in the global garment industry.   

The above notwithstanding, there is the possibility that I may be wrong. I am told that BGMEA has embarked on a number of projects to improve factory productivity and working conditions, which will bring much needed improvement to Bangladesh’s garment exporting industry. 

Under the circumstances, if BGMEA wishes to invite me, I would be happy to travel to Bangladesh to see what they want to show me and hear to what they want to tell me.

At the end of the day, I believe that we should all work together to provide tangible and quantifiable benefit to the industry, its workers and the people of Bangladesh.

Read the BGMEA post here.