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Thousands of textile workers have returned to factory work in Bangladesh amid a national coronavirus blockade, raising fears of an increased spread of the spread.
Factories in capital Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong reopened on Monday after they were allowed to resume work. The country’s garment factories had closed in late March, but under pressure from retailers to meet pending export orders, many resumed operations, despite a national shutdown in effect until May 5.
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Previously, Al Jazeera’s Tanvir Chowdhury, reporting from the capital Dhaka, said: “At least 1,000 factories are slated to reopen on Monday between Dhaka and elsewhere, including the port city of Chittagong.”
The garment forms 80 percent of the total annual exports of the South Asian nation, and the country is It is expected to lose export earnings of around $ 6 billion this fiscal year as the sector has been hit by cancellations from some of the world’s largest brands and retailers.
“Garment workers are in a precarious situation,” said Chowdhury. “They are concerned about the coronavirus and its safety, but at the same time, they know that if they don’t join, they will be fired. They need wages.”
Mofazzal Hossain, a worker, said he felt compelled to return to his factory, where he makes $ 115 a month.
“The fear of the coronavirus is there,” he told the AFP news agency. “But now I am more concerned about losing my job, wages and benefits.”
As of Monday, Bangladesh reported more than 5,900 confirmed coronavirus infections and 152 deaths.
Labor rights activists said they feared that returning to work could lead to an explosion of COVID-19 cases.
Award-winning activist Kalpona Akter told Al Jazeera that his main concern is the safety of workers.
Fears of the coronavirus
More than four million people work in thousands of garment factories in Bangladesh, which last year shipped $ 35 billion worth of garments to some of the world’s top retailers such as H&M, Inditex and Walmart.
“We have to accept coronavirus as part of life. If we don’t open factories, there will be an economic crisis,” he said. Mohammad Hatem, the vice president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
Last month, the government announced a $ 588 million package for the crucial export-oriented sector to pay its workers, but apparel manufacturers say the funds were not enough to mitigate the crisis.
On Sunday hundreds of textile workers took to the streets of Dhaka, demanding wages and ignoring social distancing rules amid the national closure.
Garment workers have held smaller protests in recent weeks to demand the loss of wages during the crisis.
“For about a week, there have been protests across the country, workers demanding their back wages, some of the workers have not been paid for two months and many are on the brink of starvation.” Chowdhury.
A national blockade is in effect until May 5, but protesters said they would continue to violate the movement ban if their demands were not met.
In recent weeks, Bangladesh has sent troops to the streets to help force travel closure and restrictions on religious gatherings and protests.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
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