News - #SolidarityWorks! Corona crisis causes emergencies. Food supply to textile worker in Bangladesh. © NGWF 15 April 2020 Impact of the corona crisis on textile workers in Bangladesh Bangladesh accounts for 75% of the textile industry's exports. The impact on employees in the absence of payments and new orders is catastrophic. Rubana Huq, president of BGMEA, said buyers had canceled $3.15 billion worth of orders in 1,134 factories or did not take off goods. Many factory owners quit their employees and often don't even pay their wages for March anymore. In contrast to Europe, there is no social security in Bangladesh, let alone a short-time work allowance. Neither business nor government is helping now. On April 13, 2020, hundreds protested on the street in the textile workers' quarters of Savar, Narayanganj and Gazipur because they have not received wages for the past (up to three) months. Unrest is to be expected. This Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity (BCWS), one of FEMNET's partners, together with other a statement publishedIn which she speaks of 10,000 workers who have been laid off. BCWS is calling for wages to be paid in March, including for workers who have worked in the factory for less than a year, as well as for the reinstatement of those who have been dismissed. The government has imposed a curfew until mid-April, but not all factories have to abide by it. Those who still have orders can continue to work. However, there is a lack of protective clothing, face masks and precautionary rules for employees. In the capital Dhaka, there is probably only one hospital that can accommodate corona patients, the equipment is inadequate, there is a lack of protective clothing for doctors and nursing staff. It will be in Bangladesh According to the BGMEA, exports were expected to decline by $5 billion between March and May 2020, which is about 57% down on the previous year. Employees are the worst hit, and most of them are women. They don't just lose their livelihoods for their families. The government's curfew is also leading to increased domestic violence.
