Archive for July, 2006
Bangladesh : Attack on garment workers severely condemned
July 29, 2006/Fibre2fashion.com, India
A human chain was formed by working women association, Karmojibi Nari, to protest the attack on workers of Hassang Garments at Uttara on July, 26. Protest meeting severely attacked the garment owners for making excuses, throwing out workers as well as suppressing them forcibly
Karmojibi Nari President, Shireen Akhter appealed the garment owners to sort out the differences through dialogue and pay the arrears of the workers immediately.
July 31st, 2006
Garment industry for sops to spur growth
STATES BUREAU/Financial Express, India
AHMEDABAD, JULY 28: Ahmedabad may regain its status as Manchester of India if the state government gives some relief in terms of taxation and makes some much-needed policy changes.Speaking to media persons here, Gujarat Garment Manufacturers Association (GGMA) president Sunil Gandhi said, “Though the garment industry in Gujarat is moving ahead, it can achieve notable growth and can be the leader among states if some policy level changes are made.â€
Terming policy level decisions and taxation as the major impediment to the growth of the industry in the state, Gandhi said, “For the growth of garment industry, particularly Ahmedabad, the government polices need to be streamlined. In addition to this, higher taxes like value added tax (Vat) and octroi are a matter of concern for the industry.â€
Besides, he called for a need to develop a garment park for catering to the needs of domestic markets. “We have already made various representations to the state government for setting up such park. We had identified a place in Ahmedabad, but the government chose to set up an apparel park for exporters,†he said adding, “We need a garment park and that too, within the octroi limits of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation as we can not afford to have such facility far away from the city.
He claimed Gujarat ranked fourth in garment production after Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. According to the details provided by him, turnover of garment industry is Gujarat is estimated to be Rs 300-400 crore, while the total turnover of the industry all over the country is Rs 20,000 crore.
Gandhi said, “ Almost 80% of cotton shirting and garments are made in Gujarat. As for raw materials for the garment industry, Gujarat consumes only 10% of the total raw materials produced in the state, while the rest is supplied to various stateâ€.
July 31st, 2006
Garment industry jobs saved
By mandeep singh
Gulf Daily News, Bahrain
ABOUT 1,500 Bahraini women in the garment and textile sector will be given a fresh lease of life following the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US on Tuesday, an industry spokesman said yesterday.
Only six garment factories now survive in Bahrain, down from the 22 two years ago, due to international competition.
There were 11,000 people being employed in the sector, which went down to 4,000.
“This is very good news, particularly for those who deal in fabrics,” said Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry Readymade Garments and Textiles Committee vice-chairman Harinder Singh Lamba.
“We are now sure that the existing six factories dealing in fabrics and two others dealing in textiles have a very good chance of not only surviving but also doing very well with regard to international competition.”
Mr Lamba said the excellent facilities in Bahrain, which include top class port infrastructure and its central location, would prove to be catalysts for the industry.
“Many of Bahrain’s competitors, including India and countries in the Far East, do not have the advantages that we do, since we are closer to the major international consumers and export markets.”
However, Mr Lamba said, the two textile factories would have to do some value addition in their products so that they remain competitive.
“For the garment manufacturers, they can import 35 million square meters of textile fabric from outside Bahrain and turn that into garments for export, while the textile manufactures will have to do something more to export the raw fabric.”
He said this includes getting into joint ventures either with companies outside Bahrain or within the country.
Mr Lamba said the competitive spirit among the Bahrain industry would ensure there are no more job or other losses.
“The industry is now on an upswing and the FTA means there is no looking back,” he said.
July 31st, 2006
50 inured, 20 arrested: Garment workers clash with police at Uttara
The New Nation, Bangladesh
At least 50 garment workers and police were injured in a violent clash between workers and police at the city’s Uttara yesterday morning.
Police arrested 20 workers during the clash.
Witnesses said the clash ensued when five to six thousand workers of eight garment factories including the workers of Hachong Corporation Limited brought out a procession at about 9.30 am demanding the resumption of work in the factory, reinstatement of the workers in their job who were fired earlier, put an end to workers’ repression and the death of a pregnant female worker following the baton charge by law enforcers on Thursday’s road blockade.
The agitated workers belonged to Nadia Sweater, Naj Sweater, Batiks Sweater, Bengal Sweater, SKS Sweater, Sintech Sweater and Najma Sweater besides the workers of Unit – 1 of Hachong Corporation Limited, the garment factory where the flame of fury first instigated.
The procession of the worker was intercepted by police. Police also put up barricade on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway triggering the stranding of hundreds vehicles on the both sides of the road.
At about 12 noon, the agitating workers brought out a procession for the second time from Azampur and again confronted police cordon near at Bismillah Shopping Complex.
Meanwhile, the agitating workers locked into chase and counter-chase with the law enforcers and about 50 people were injured in the incident. Police also arrested 10 to 12 workers from the spot.
Tense situation has been prevailing following the incident.
The workers of the same garment factory earlier took on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway demanding the resumption of work in the factory and an end to the worker repression on Wednesday and Thursday.
The workers of the factory earlier demonstrated several times sporadically to materialize their demands.
It is known that the workers unrest mounted following the shut down of the Hachong Corporation factory abruptly on July 18 without paying their dues.
© Copyright 2003 by The New Nation
July 31st, 2006
2 garment units gutted at Mirpur: Fire at Benarasi Palli: One killed
By Staff Reporter/The New Nation, Bangladesh
A young man was killed and 50 others were injured when two devastating fires broke out at Benarasi Palli at Section No. 11, Mirpur yesterday morning and at a garment factory at Section No. 12, Mirpur Wednesday night.
Both the incidents of fires happened within a span of twelve hours, exposing lack of precautionary measures to cope with fire and usual failure of the fire service department to extinguish the blaze.
Witnesses said a devastating fire broke out at the stranded Pakistanis-run Bihari Camp behind the Mirpur Graveyard at Section No. 11 at around 12:00 noon yesterday leaving one killed and many others injured.
The deceased was identified as Abu Taleb, 22, whose body was later recovered. Abu Taleb hailed from Barisal district. Details of the ill-fated youth could not be known immediately
Earlier, receiving information, fire-fighters rushed to the spot to extinguish the fire. As many as eight fire-fighting units from the Fire Brigade headquarters, Lalbagh fire station, Mohammadpur fire station and Khilgaon fire station went to the spot. However, the fire-fighting work remained suspended for an hour due to lack of water. A huge smoke from the fire spot was seen emitting till yesterday afternoon despite dousing the blaze by fire fighters.
“Due to hot weather and gusty wind the fire spread fast engulfing the area within a short time,” a fire fighter said. Later, they succeeded to douse the inferno at about 1pm.
A fire fighter also sustained injuries while combating the deadly fire.
There were some 800 kutcha and semi-pucca makeshift slums at the Bihari Camp which was also known as Benarasi Palli. Some 200 micro-level Benarasi saree manufacturing factories were situated at this Benarsi Palli, which was completely gutted by the fire, leaving hundreds of slum-dwelling poor people homeless and destroying their livelihood completely.
People living in the Benarasi Palli said they did not know how the fire broke out. However, they did not rule out the possibility of any foul play behind the incident.
Losing all their belongings, the inhabitants of the Benarasi Palli are now living under the open sky. They even do not have minimum financial ability to continue the life afresh.
Another incident of devastating fire broke out at Recent Garment, a joint venture between Bangladesh and Hong Kong at Molla Market, Section No. 12 in Pallabi Wednesday night that left over 25 workers injured.
Earlier on Wednesday night, a devastating fire at Recent Garment at Mollah Market, at 142, Cantonment Road, Alhaj Ramzan Nesa Super Market at Section No. 12 at Mirpur at about 10:30pm on Wednesday.
The extent of the loss at this garment of joint venture with Hong Kong was not known immediately.
However, the garment officials claimed the loss at Tk 10 crore.
Though no one died in the fire, the factory was badly damaged by the fire.
Police, fire fighters and witnesses said, 1400 workers of the garments left the factory at about 8 pm when it was closed. Then at about 10:15pm the fire gripped the 7th floor of the eight-storey building. After this the fire engulfed the 6th floor and the adjacent Pioneer Garments Ltd.
On information the team of Fire Brigade reached the spot and tried to extinguish the fire. As the building was very high, the hydraulic system of fire fighting unit went out of order. It took at least two hours to make it effective.
Meanwhile, the fire engulfed the Pioneer Garments. At about 2 am two more vehicles of fire fighters came to the spot. Twelve units of Fire Brigade were able to bring the fire under control at about 5 am after hectic efforts of seven hours.
According to the factory owner, the equipment for making cloths and T-shirts, which were at 7th floor, were gutted. But the cause of the fire was not known immediately.
Golam Kabir Chowdhury, managing director of Recent Garments Ltd, blamed the fire-fighters for making delay in extinguishing the fire. ‘Goods worth crores of taka could be saved if the fire-fighters showed efficiency,’ he said.
Besides, the BGMEA President Fazlul Huq and other leaders rushed to the spot to see the gutted factory. They said that they would talk to the government about the losses incurred by the factory owner.
Commerce Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed along with the BGMEA leaders visited the affected factory yesterday afternoon.
© Copyright 2003 by The New Nation
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July 28th, 2006
Garment manufacturers need high value raw materials
Moneycontrol.com, India
Garments and textiles exports in the country are pegged at about $16 billion. But when compared with the domestic market (about $40 billion) and China’s textile exports of $60 billion, this figure is rather low, says Mr Brian Parker, a Mumbai-based freelance consultant for the textile industry.
So, where does the lacunae lie? In access to raw materials, explains Mr Parker, who is here in connection with a textile trade fair.
“India as a manufacturer of fabrics and accessories is building capabilities. Name any international brand - JC Penny, Macy’s or Giordano - they have their sourcing base in India and China. But we are still not quite there. Garment exports have been growing at 4-5 per cent for the last four years. But that’s negligible. For Indian garment manufacturers to get higher dollar value realisation in the international market, they need to make high value garments and scale up capacity for which they obviously need high value raw materials.”
“The Ministry of Textiles has set a target of $50 billion for textile and garment exports by 2010. But to get there, the access to raw material has to improve.”
Trade show
The Fabrics and Accessories Trade Show to be held in Bangalore from August 4 to 6 hopes to address this issue. Into its third edition, the trade show provides sourcing information for garment manufacturers, exporters, fashion designers, buying houses and the merchandising companies on raw materials that go into the making of a garment - fabrics, accessories, trimmings and embellishments. “It will be positioned as a sourcing platform for identifying suppliers,” says Mr P.N. Krishna Murthy, CEO, SS Media and Marketing, organisers of the show
There will be 84 participants, including 12 international players, across 180 stalls. The exhibitors include Hyderabad-based GTN Industries, KG Fabrics (Coimbatore), Jindal Poly Buttons, and international manufacturers such as TNS Buttons (Sri Lanka), Union International (Hong Kong), QST Industries (US), Asia Global Shanghai and Fashion Tex International (Sri Lanka). Exhibitors include manufacturers of shirting material, suiting material, knitted fabric, denim, corduroy, buttons, dress materials, sippers, hangers, sewing thread, embroidery products and interlinings.
Last year, the show saw around 2,600 visitors from 67 buying houses. “This year too we expect 3,000-4,000 visitors,” says Mr Murthy. Some of the major garment makers that visited the show in the last two years include domestic firms such as Madura Garments, Arvind Brands and Gokaldas Exports and international companies such as JC Penney, Nike, Wal-Mart and Gap.
Capacity expansion
Mr Parker says there has been a lot of capacity expansion in India, especially after the abolition of quotas (restrictions on imports in the WTO multi-fibre agreement) last year. Garment manufacturers and exporters have a lot to cheer with the lowering of import duties, which will, he says, eventually be scrapped.
“India has been traditionally strong and proactive in colours and designs. Indian companies are working very closely with international designers, perhaps not the case with China. We are also very strong in summer wear. It fetches very steady dollar realisation,” he says.
July 28th, 2006
Stakeholders meet on use of Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock garment
Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006/The Tide, Nigeria
A stakeholders meeting on the use of Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (NASG), a new device that controls bleeding in women, was held in Abuja.
The essence of the workshop put together by Centre for Population and Reproductive Health, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, was to popularise the device.
NASG is a split padded device, that is wrapped around a patient from the legs to the abdomen, in four different stages to assist in surgeries, or restore blood to deficient parts of the body during emergencies.
The Project Manager of NASG, Dr Titi Duro-Aina, told our correspondent that trial test for the device commenced in the country last year.
She said that the tests were being conducted at UCH, Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital (AKUTH) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
Duro-Aina said that the device was strictly meant to control Acute Obstetric Haemorrhage in women for now.
She said that if in future the device would be modeled for men, other sensitisation programmes and workshops would be done for all stakeholders.
In her presentation, AKUTH Consultant Obstetrician-Gynaecologist, Dr Hadiza Galadanci, said that NASG was a first aid device that stabilises patients with obstetric haemorrhage.
She said that it reversed shock by returning blood to the vital organs such as the heart, brain and lungs thereby resulting to faster resuscitation, less blood loss and less need for transfusion.
With the use of NASG, she said that there would be fewer mortalities and morbidities, going by results of the device which was invented in the U.S.
On its therapeutic effects, Galadanci said that resuscitation of the central circulation results in translocation of up to three pints of blood from the lower body to the central location.
Because it reduced haemorrhage in pelvis, she said that NASG has the capacity to decrease in-blood flow to that part of the body, thereby providing additional time to provide definitive treatment.
For NASG to be effective, she said that any hospital where the device had to been used must have a “good laboratory backing†so that accurate results of tests would aid in its use.
On the challenges facing the new device, Prof. Oladosu Ojemgbede of UCH Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology said that the list included training of trainers on its use and the definition of the curriculum for that purpose.
He said that there was need to develop and formalise a referral protocol for patients in the NASG, just as facilities for other measures of managing obstetric haemorrhage should be available.
July 27th, 2006
Textile-garment firms short manpower
15:07′ 25/07/2006 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge, Vietnam
VietNamNet – To cope with the prolonged unavailability of manpower, textile-garment producers are looking to open training schools in remote areas.
Chairman of the HCM City Association of Garment – Textile & Embroidery – Knitting (Agtek) said that the lack of manpower is normal in the first quarter, but this year it has extended through July. Many companies are unable to meet 60% of their labour requirements.
Nguyen Ngoc Thuy, Director of the HCM City-based Tan Phu Cuong Company, said that labour shortage is a serious problem with Vietnam about to enter the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as garment companies are preparing to expand.
At the same time, provinces across the country are expanding industrial zones, which means increased employment opportunities that attract many migrant workers back to their home provinces.
“Labour shortages will become more serious in upcoming months, as Vietnam comes closer to WTO membership,†Mr Thuy said.
Tan Phu Cuong Company always lacks over 20% of labour despite its efforts in recruitment. The company has decided to cooperate with training units in Central Highlands province of Dak Lak to offer free vocational training in a bid to have a stable labour supply for its factory. This solution is also being applied by other textile-garment companies in this situation.
(Source: VNE)
July 26th, 2006
Garment fair in city
News Today, India
As a curtain-raiser to the ensuing festive season, the Chennai Apparel Association (CAA), a society established to serve as a nodal agency for manufacturers, distributors agents and retailers in exhibiting their products, is organising a three-day garment fair in Chennai starting from tomorrow.
What’s CAA’s aim in organising a fair exclusively for the benefit of the manufacturers and distributors?
Briefing mediapersons here yesterday, U N Shankar Ram, vice-president of CAA, said ‘it has been planned to bring all-manufacturers, distributors, agents, retailers under one roof facilitating them to get an outline about the fair and other inputs well in advance.
On the objective of this maiden venture of CAA, he said that this would allow the manufacturers and distributors to come together and display their latest collections for booking by the dealers, as major sales in apparels (around 65-70 per cent) were being done during the months of September and January, when a major chunk of new styles and collections hit the market.
Jagdish Sarda, president of the association said that the CAA has 100 members and over 100 leading brands like Venfield, Lee, Trigger, Lawman, Crocodile, Naidu Hall, Anate, Pan America, Cotton by Century, Excaliber, Oxemberg and Integrity, are likely to participate in the expo.
CAA targets a business transaction around Rs 25 crore during the three-day fair. Fashion show would be part of the expo on 27 July. And the entry is restricted to retailers, dealers and traders from the garment industry.
The venue of the expo is Rani Meiyammai Hall and Raja Muthiah Hall, Egmore.
July 26th, 2006
Open fire on attackers
Commerce minister tells garment factory owners
Staff Correspondent
The Daily Star, Bangladesh
Commerce Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed yesterday asked the garment owners to open fire in case of attacks on their factories in future.
“Sometimes you have to be tough. You can wait for one or two incidents and then straight fire on the attackers to save your factories,” he said referring to the recent labour unrest in the readymade garment sector.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a meeting with the garment owners at Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) office in Dhaka.
Hafizuddin, however, urged the owners to try their best to raise the salary of the garment workers and implement the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at a tripartite meeting in June.
“The owners should increase the workers’ salary so that they can lead a decent life. At the same time, there should not be any unrealistic demand from the workers’ side as well,” the minister observed.
Speaking at the meeting, former BGMEA president Annisul Huq said the workers are demanding a salary hike of an astronomical 525 per cent and they are demanding Tk 24,425 a month for a grade-I worker. The industry cannot afford to meet such demands, he added.
There are several hundred sick garment factories and this is one of the three major problems the apparel sector is faced with, he said adding that a large number of factories are barely surviving on marginal profit.
Annisul represents BGMEA in the six-member board formed by the government to recommend a pay scale for the workers.
Pointing to some other problems including corruption at Chittagong port, he said the garment owners are “extorted at several stages at the port”. The exporters have to pay an extra $1 lakh dollar on each ship at the Chittagong port, he noted.
BGMEA President SM Fazlul Hoque said the garment owners want to get rid of the huge hidden expenditure that they now have to incur.
“They say we exploit the workers but there is none to say that the garment owners in fact are being exploited,” he added.
In addition to paying Tk 2,500 to the state coffers, a factory owner has to pay the customs officials Tk 10,000 and this trend needs to be changed, he argued.
Fazlul said getting imports cleared on time is another big problem for the garment owners. Moreover, electricity crisis has pushed up the production cost to a much higher level, he added.
Commerce Secretary Firoz Ahmed called on the garment owners to do their best regarding wages of the workers.
July 25th, 2006
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