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ILO, BGMEA and BKMEA

powers RMG ‘Learning Hub’ With the success of First edition

International Labour Organization (ILO), in preparedness guidelines are being followed, and of FABRIC DAYS, A second edition
partnership with the Bangladesh Garment continuing to promote strong social dialogue in the
Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA) workplace. for Summer 22 is unfolding
and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and
Exporters’ Association (BKMEA) has launched a Developed by the ILO, the ‘learning hub’ would
comprehensive safety and training package to help serve as a one-stop virtual platform and has been
the RMG industry better protect and monitor workers made possible through $750,000 of financial
and working conditions during COVID-19. support from Sweden and Denmark. An additional
$250,000 has been contributed by several existing
As more and more workers return to work, the RMG ILO funding partners, namely: Australia, Canada, the
‘Learning Hub’ would focus on three core areas: European Union (EU), Germany, Netherlands,
raising COVID-19 prevention awareness among Switzerland, US Department of Labor (USDOL) and
workers and factory management; ensuring the Department for International Development (UK
COVID-19 Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Aid).

Japanese apparel industry suffers

the most during COVID-19 crises

Global pandemic has made a significant dent in the Vietnamese shipment was also up by 1.72 per cent
apparel retail industry, forcing the mass closures of in Jan.-Apr. 2020 period.
retail stores and Japan is not an exception. As a
result, Japan imported 903.5 billion yen (US $ 8.41 China exported 486.05 billion yen (US $ 4.53 billion)
billion) of garments, marking 9.60 per cent downfall of garments to Japan in the first 4 months of 2020,
on a yearly basis. noting a drop of 14.43 per cent, while weight
reduced by 12.08 per cent to 1,358.33 million kg Following the successful staging of FABRIC DAYS at changes move organisers further away from the
According to the data released by Ministry of from a year earlier. the beginning of September 2020 as the first physical certainty of being able to realise VIEW in the usual
Finance, Japan, the country was also down by 8.80 trade fair after the lockdown, the organisers of professional way in just a few weeks time. Further
per cent in weight to import 2,076 million kg worth of India too lost substantial share in its respective MUNICH FABRIC START Exhibitions GmbH have measures such as extended travel restrictions are not
garments from the world over. It’s worth putting here apparel exports to Japan. The country’s export started planning the next round of trade fairs for the foreseeable at this point in time.
that Japan kicked off 2020 with a rise in import value valued at 11.71 billion yen (US $ 110 million) which Spring. Summer 22 season. The aim was to realise
and volume but it continuously fell after that. All was 21.58 per cent down from what it had exported VIEW Premium Selection as a Preview Textile Fair to FABRIC DAYS has proven that a trade fair is possible
despite the great challenges of a pandemic.
major exporting countries plunged in the review the same period of the prior year; also, the weight of compliment the main trade fair which would follow 6 However, against the background of the current
period in their respective exports to Japan, except for the shipment reduced by 17.56 per cent. weeks later in Munich. development, the organisers no longer consider a
Vietnam which saw growth both in quantity and trade fair at the beginning of December to be
value. Bangladesh too dwindled in its exports to Japan but Over the past few days the situation has changed justifiable or responsible. After all, the health and
not as much as China or India. The shipment from drastically and with it the starting position. Current safety of all exhibitors, visitors and participants at the
Vietnamese apparel shipment to Japan valued at Bangladesh valued at 46.59 billion yen (US $ 434 Covid-19 developments and the uncertainty of any trade fairs always has top priority.
149.29 billion yen (US $ 1.39 billion), marking a surge million), noting 3.04 per cent fall on Y-o-Y basis. On
of 4.81 per cent on Y-o-Y basis. Weight-wise also, the the other hand, weight of the apparel shipment
country noted 1.95 per cent growth. The UVR of decreased by 4.52 per cent.

September/October 2020 September/October 2020