Bangladesh apparel exporters ask ambassador to ensure fair prices in US

Readymade garment entrepreneurs have urged US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat to take measures to ensure fair price for Bangladeshi clothes following a hike in the minimum wage for workers.

Tge Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association organised a farewell reception for the outgoing envoy at their Karwan Bazar offices in Dhaka on Tuesday.

BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman also called on Bernicat to work for the resumption of facilities under the generalised system of preferences or GSP for their products.

The RMG entrepreneurs have been asking for fair prices citing costs of improving workplace environment and safety. Recently, the government raised the minimum monthly wage in the sector to Tk 8,000 from Tk 5,300.   

“You’ve seen with your own eyes how Bangladesh’s garment sector turned back in past four years. Now it is the country’s most safe and transparent sector,” Siddiqur told Bernicat.  

“But some wrong ideas about the industry have remained in the West. I hope you will present the actual picture of the industry when you return to the United States,” he said.

He expressed frustration over the drop in prices of their products in a large market like the US.

The garment workers’ wage was raised by 381 percent in past eight years while the prices of the Bangladeshi products dropped by 11.72 percent in the US, according to the BGMEA chief.

“We request you to take steps so that the US buyers ensure fair prices for our products,” he told Bernicat.

He also asked her to recommend Bangladeshi products made with US cotton for duty-free access to her country.

Siddiqur said Bangladesh fulfilled all the conditions for GSP facilities but the US was yet to revive them. He urged Bernicat to convey their demand for resumption of the GSP facilities to Washington.

The BGMEA leaders hailed Bernicat as ‘A True Friend of Bangladesh RMG Industry’ for her efforts to improve trade relations between the two countries.

She expressed her pleasure at the improvement of workplace environment of the sector and called for steps to keep up the achievements.

BGMEA leaders Faruque Hassan and Mohammed Nasir, among others, were present.