In order to restore clothing orders, suspended or canceled by many European brands and retailers after the COVID 19 Pandemic, Bangladesh asked help from the European Parliament. The cancelation or suspension of work orders has disrupted the sector and forced many owners to lay off workers, says Dr Jafar Uddin, Secretary of Commerce in a letter to Bernd Lange, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the International Trade Committee.
In recent weeks, several thousand vulnerable employees lost their jobs, plunging their lives and livelihoods into deep uncertainty. He urged Lange to take the steps to save RMG employees’ lives and livelihoods, most of whom are women. BGMEA noted that some four million employees currently working in Bangladeshi garment factories are the most vulnerable, as some 1,150 apparel factories registered order cancelation or suspension of goods worth $3.18 billion until April 29. BKMEA also announced that out of 833, its 523 members registered a $1.78 billion suspension or cancelation of an order.
