Bangladesh jute industry is losing productivity and competitiveness due to antiquated technology, putting at risk the survival of the sector and jobs of hundreds, sector leaders and members of the Jute Industry Protection Committee recently said. Old machines have 66 per cent productivity rate and the country has witnessed the closure of 51 jute mills till now.
The jute industry players addressed a recent press conference in Dhaka aided by ActionAid Bangladesh.
As workers’ wage increase from the beginning of next year, Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation will face constraints to run its five jute mills, committee executive president Abdul Khalek said.
If the state-run jute mills close, 35,000 workers will turn jobless, he said.
Bangladesh needs to raise productivity and build a marketing network to sell unsold products, a report in a Bangladesh newspaper quoted Khalek as saying.
ActionAid program director Asger Ali Sabri said a packaging act should be effectively imposed to encourage jute-made bags and packaging in the local economy.
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