BGMEA at a Glance

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is one of the largest
trade associations in the country representing the readymade garment industry, particularly the
woven garments, knitwear and sweater sub-sectors with equal importance. Starting its journey in
1983 today BGMEA takes care of an industry that is at the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy.
Since the inception, BGMEA is dedicated to promote and facilitate the apparel industry through
policy advocacy to the government, services to members, ensuring workers’ rights and social
compliance at factories.

Mission and Vision

BGMEA works with the vision to develop the RMG industry of Bangladesh and the economy of
the country. Having such vision BGMEA chalked out the following missions and its strategic
direction is paved accordingly –

Firstly, to protect and promote the interests of the industry; thus ensuring a sustained growth in
the foreign exchange earnings of the country.

Secondly, BGMEA is committed to ensure all legitimate rights and privileges of the garment
workers. The association also strives toward the betterment of the society and environment.

Members

BGMEA started with only 12 members in early 1980's and presently has around 4500 member
factories. Around 40% of BGMEA member factories are knitwear and sweater manufactures, and
the rest 60% are woven garment manufactures. BGMEA member factories account for 100%
woven garment exports of the country and more than 95% of sweater exports, while around half
of the light knitwear exports are made by them.

How BGMEA Runs

BGMEA is being run by a 35-member elected Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is
elected for a two-year term. Seven Vice Presidents having important portfolios, along with a
secretariat of experienced officials, assists the President in formulating and executing vital policies
and programs of the organization. The President is the highest executive authority of the
association. The Board of Directors takes assistance from different Standing Committees headed
by a Chairman and composed of members having vast experience in the related fields. Strict
adherence to democratic norms and code of conduct are being maintained in the BGMEA
elections, which has been regarded as a trend setter in trade body elections of Bangladesh for its
pre-election projection caucus and election-day discipline.
BGMEA'S ACTIVITIES

Trade Facilitation & Promotion

• Policy advocacy and dialogues for smooth functioning of trade and industries.
•Lead role in maintaining harmonious industrial relationship.
•Keep members abreast on contemporary global business trend.
•Organizes Bangladesh Apparel & Textile Exposition (BATEXPO) since 1989 and
the Chittagong Fabric, Apparel and Textile Exposition (CAFAXPO) since 2003.
• Organizes trade missions to explore the new markets and to facilitate trade in existing markets.
•Organizes seminars for recommending on key policies.
• Takes part in bilateral (two-sided) and multilateral trade negotiations.

Human Resources Development

• Follows a unique model in skill development: train the poor people living in the distressed
areas, utilizing the idle capacity of Government’s technical training institutes and this address the
skill shortage of the industry.
• Job placement program for the people-with-disabilities.
• Undertook program to enhance productivity & quality at factory and worker level.

Watchdogs Workplace Safety & Compliance

•Regularly monitors member factories to check compliance.

• Runs a Social compliance improvement project to improve the compliance standard.
• BGMEA organizes training for the member factories on social and environmental standards.

BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT)

• Produces technically competent human resource for the garment industry.

• Offers short and long courses in apparel manufacturing, fashion design & technology, and
merchandising.
• Has collaborations with the London College of Fashion, UK; Nottingham Trent University,
UK; and the Niederrhein University, Germany.

Green & Clean Production

Ensuring green & clean production and conserving the nature & its resources are one of the most
priority areas of work for BGMEA. BGMEA has been making relentless efforts to motivate,
guide and support its members to become more responsive toward the environment through
energy efficient production, sustainable use of natural resources and green building. BGMEA has
been running several programs with partners like IFC, SEDF to assist the member factories
toward energy efficient and cleaner production.
Healthcare for the workers

• BGMEA recognizes the fundamental rights of the workers, particularly access to healthcare
facilities. On this spirit BGMEA runs 12 Health Centers for the garment workers and their
families, provide pre – medical services and medicines at free of cost.
• Besides, it run awareness program on HIV/ AIDS.
In addition to this, BGMEA runs a full-fledged hospital for workers in Chittagong.
• Another hospital for workers is under construction at Mirpur in Dhaka.

The CSR initiatives of BGMEA

BGMEA undertakes a number of regular activities and projects to ensure workers rights, social
and environmental compliance and welfare.

Implementation of the tri-partite agreement among the workers, factory owners and government
authorities has achieved a highest success rate, among others, of paying minimum wages,
appointment letters and maternity benefit.

• The Group Insurance scheme for the garment workers and staffs has been made mandatory.
• Provides arbitration facilities to the garment workers at free of cost.
• BGMEA worker fairs annually.
• Building Code has been made mandatory for all member units.
• Conduct regular fire drills and fire safety training program in member factories.
• BGMEA has started food rationing program for workers in August 2009.
• Runs skill development programs for the garment industry through 34 training centers in
different regions of the country.

Better Work Program

The “Better Work Program” with ILO is
underway for its operation in Bangladesh. Expected benefits should include improved
reputation of the Bangladesh RMG sector, reduction of audits, unified code of conduct, labor
peace; and productivity & quality improvement.

BGMEA operates five schools for the workers children and provides books and study materials
at free of cost. BGMEA has been providing stipends to the meritorious children of workers.

BGMEA organized music talent hunt program (GORBO) twice for RMG workers. This program
aims to provide the workers a platform where they can discover their talents and make
themselves motivated.