Title of the Report

Problems Of Garments Industry In Bangladesh In A Case Study

of Snow While Cotton Limited
Executive Summary:
Bangladesh garments Industry is the largest industrial sector of the country. Though the history
Garments Industry is not older one but Bangladesh clothing business has a golden history. A
problem of garment in Bangladesh is low wage of the workers. Garment industries do not
provide perfect wages to workers. So that workers do not with much sincerity. Electricity
problem is another problem of garment industries of Bangladesh. We should come forward all to
overcome these problems. Our government should be more concerned about the solutions of
these problems. In chapter one garments industry study background and object including .In
chapter two describe Snow White Cotton Limited is engaged in processing raw fabric to finished
products and exports these products to different countries ,that means history of Snow White
Cotton Ltd. In chapter three analyses Problem of garment in Bangladesh. Chapter Four includes
Snow White Cotton Ltd Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat, and problems. Chapter five
describes Recommendations and Conclusion of garments industry.

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Table of Contents
Contents

Pages

Letter of Transmittal.. 2
Acknowledgement .............3
Executive Summary4
Table of Contents...5-7
Chapter # 1 Introductory Part.9-13
1.1 Introduction.9
1.2Background of the study..10
1.3 Objectives of the study...10
1.3.1 Broad Objective10

1.3.2 Specific Objective..10-11

1.4 Scope of the study12
1.5 Limitations of the study.12-13
Chapter # 2 Organization Overview15-21
2.1 Introduction15
2.1.1Product Quality ..15
2.1.2The project purposes and designs16

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2.1.3 Product Mix and Production Capacity.16

2.1.4 Raw materials..16
2.1.5Management & Organization ..17
2.1.6 Employment opportunities .17
2.1.7Prepare and garments budget.17
2.1.8The processes of preparing budget17
2.1.9 In the garments sector the control is divided18
2.1.10 Mission19
2.1.11 Vision.20
2.1.12 Manufacturing process20
2.1.13 Knitting unit ..20
2.1.13 (A) Figure Activities of Knitting unit.21
2.1.14 fabric dyeing and finishing unit..21
2.1.15 Sections for production21
2.1.16Types of knitted fabrics21-22
Chapter#3 Analysis Problems and Prospects

24-35

3.1 Problems and Prospects of the Garments Industry

3.1.1Raw materials..25
3.1.2Unskilled workers.25
3.1.3Market Diversification.25
3.1.4Improper working environment..26
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24

3.1.5 Lack of managerial knowledge.26

3.1.6Gendered division of labor..27
3.1.7 Wages27
3.1.8 Insufficient of loan..28
3.1.9Unit labor cost.28
3.1.10working hours28
3.1.12Child labor29
3.1.13 Safety problems.30
3.1.14 Political crisis.31
3.1.15 Price competitiveness.31
3.1.16 Lead time.32
3.1.17 Research and training..32
3.2 Challenge of Globalization and prospects of the Garments industry33
3.3 Supportive Government Policy..34-35
Chapter # 4 Finding...37-41
4.1 Finding of study...37-38
4.2 Snow White Cotton Ltd Problems38
4.2.1 Lack of availability of raw material.38
4.2.2 Labor .38
4.2.3 Inflexible working hours .39
4.2.4 Health and safety..39
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4.2.5 Political Crisis ..39

4.3 Strength, weakness, opportunity and threat of Snow White Cotton Ltd..40-41
Chapter # 5 Recommendations & Conclusion ...43-45
5.2 Recommendations ....43-44
5.3 Conclusion ......45
References.......46
Appendices...31

Chapter One:

Introduction
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1.1 INTRODUCTION:
The Garments industry provide the single source of economic growth in Bangladeshs rapidly
developing economy .Bangladesh over the last two decades has surpassed the most optimistic
expectations. Today the export sector is a multi-billion-dollar manufacturing and export industry
in the country. The overall impact of the garment exports is certainly one of the most significant
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social and economic developments in contemporary Bangladesh. With over one and a half
million women workers employed in semi-skilled and skilled jobs producing clothing for
exports, the development of the export industry has had far-reaching implications for the society
and economy of Bangladesh. Garment industry in Bangladesh with out the proper laws the
worker are demanding their various wants and as a result conflict is began with the industry. Low
working salary is another vital fact which makes the labor conflict. Worker made strike, layout to
capture their demand. Some time bonus and the over time salary are the important cause of crisis.
Insufficient government policy about this sector is a great problem in Garments industry.

The garments industry of Bangladesh has been functioning in a difficult environment with
bureaucratic and political obstacles often coming in between the countrys perspective and
clients demand .Lengthy bureaucratic process political. strikes and unfavorable protectionism
poses a challenge to the sector. Higher costs for freight both of which increases the overall price
of the garments manufactured .The demand for a central bonded warehouse of the garments
sector to achieve the global lead-time standard is yet to be conceded by the government.
Entrepreneurs are finding it difficult to achieve further efficiency in lead-time and price ,which
is crucial for competing in the free market economy.

1.2 Background of the Study:

The report title Problems of garments industry in Bangladesh Case Study of Snow
While Cotton Limited has been prepared as a practical fulfillment of BBA Degree in Private

University. Student are required to undertake and internship program. For this purpose each of
there is attached with or organization. During the internship a student has to prepare a report on

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the organization where he is assigned. He has also to undertake and were of investigation on the
organization for detailed study.
The basic purpose of this attachment is to expose the student to the real business world.
This exposure acquaints his with the practices of modern business world. This exposure is very
helpful is seeing for oneself how things move and to find the gap as well as the similarities
between theoretical and practical knowledge.

1.3 Objectives of the study:

Broad Objectives:
The study was conducted to make an analysis of the Problems Of Garments Industry In
Bangladesh A Case Study of Snow While Cotton Limited . This report shows the todays

garments situation in our country. How much it doing in present day and in the recent future and
also the problems it faces in regular basis.
Specific Objectives:
The specific objective of the report is to know in details about the delinquent problems and
prospects of the Bangladesh garments sector. The Project has been directed by the following
specific Objective:

Assessment the competitive the Global Market.

Positive and negative atmosphere in RMG sector and what is the real solution.

Quality assurance as per Buyer requirement. A good quality makes a good Export.

Lastly, Influence the Buyer to our RMG Export.

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1.4 Methodology:
For carrying out this project paper we had to study the actual operating of garments business.

In order to carry out this study, two sources of data and information have been used.
A) Primary source:
I discussed with the executive and official of snow white clothing company and found the
approximate data, which has been presented in the report. I also discussed with the
official of others garments and departments regarding this issue and found necessary
information. Which has been presented in the report.
B) Secondary source:
Secondary material was also used, literature, research publications, trade and production
data, interviews given by key people in the garment trade in different sources ,articles in
local news paper and internet. Those are listed in the bibliography.
Beside I have also found a lot of information from the following:
Annual report of 2012-2013 of Snow White Cotton Ltd.
Online data from website.
1.5 Scope of the study:
I assigned to do my Internship program in Snow White Cotton Ltd this internship
program designed by the Mr. MiZanur Rahman (Manager) Accounting and Finance Division of
the Company together practical knowledge about overall activities of the Snow white cotton at
corporate office. My project was limited in Problems of Garments Sector in Bangladesh. How
ever I studied all the main functional areas of the company they are: Accounting, Finance ,
Marketing and other valuable work in garments factories. I also introduce with companies
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service polices and program. I also observed in interaction general manager with other functional
department on the company.

1.5 Limitations of the study:

Since our study is based on both primary and secondary data, there is a possibility of getting fake
information. If the surveyed personnel provide us with any fabricated information about their
opinion of their organization, then the report findings may be erroneous. Above all, this study is
weak in some points. The notable ones are as under:

The survey was conducted in a very short time so we were not able to collect more information.

This survey made on crisis situation of Bangladesh, so it was difficult to collect more samples.

Only the big and the reputed Garments Company consider here as sample.

The questionnaire contains some questions that, if answered properly, might damage the
companys image. In this type of questions, the respondents might provide socially acceptable
answers. This risk was unavoidable.

Another limitation of this study is the persons private information were not disclosing some, data
and information for obvious reasons, which could be very much useful.

Lack of proper authority to conduct the interview program.

Lack of experience in this field.

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Chapter two :

Overview of Snow White Cotton Limited

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2.1Introduction:
Snow White Cotton Limited

Snow White Cotton Limited is engaged in processing raw fabric to finished products and exports
these products to different countries. They use high tech machineries to produce a quality
garments product. They also add new machineries to increase their production line. They have a
mission and the vision is profit maximization. The merchandising philosophy of garments is to
keep good relation with their buyers .The garments Industry maintains a good relationship with
every buyer. Hard working and commitment maintenance is their main strategy. They always try
to satisfy their buyers. In this perspective the merchandiser always try to do their merchandising
activities in due time. The merchandiser of this company is not very much skilled person. More
over him has no assistant. For this reason; Sometimes the company face problem. So, here
garments can recruit high skilled people with giving high salary. Snow White Cotton garment
products are softer and more comfortable. More profitable production can be made due to lower
project cost and cheaper management cost. Cotton wears can be handled more easily while using
and washing. Its market price is comparatively cheaper. Its market price is comparatively
cheaper. They demand they offer reasonable price for their products. They never compromise
with quality, Timely shipment is business ethics, and Customers satisfaction .

2.1.1Product Quality:
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In the export market supply of quality product is considered to be prime determinant for
successful marketing of the product. It is generally believed that the buyers do not sacrifice
quality for the sake of price. As such, quality of the product must be ensured to compete in the
export market. The sponsors of the company to remain always conscious about the quality,
design etc. of fabrics. To produce quality fabrics they are required to use proper imported and
local raw materials, right -type machinery and to employ experienced and skilled personnel. The
quality control section of the project must be equipped with the required and necessary quality
control equipment so that at every stage of production quality of the product may be ensured;
otherwise, it may difficult for the project to penetrate their product successfully in the
international market unless quality is not maintained properly.
2.1.2The project purposes and designs:
Fabric Dyeing Finishing unit and Garments unit. The project will produce, Snow White
Cotton beached Dyed finished Fabrics .The project has most modem and sophisticated
machinery in the section of knitting for producing quality fabrics, most modern and sophisticated
machinery also included in the dyeing finishing unit to produce quality product. Finally the
fabrics will be using in the garments unit to produce T-Shirt, Polo-shirt and high value knit wear.
2.1.3 Product Mix and Production Capacity:
The annual attainable capacity of the proposed project based on three shift operation for
Knitting section & Dyeing and Finishing section and one shift operation for Garments section
per day and working for 300 days in a year .The annual saleable product of the proposed project
based on three-shift operation per day of 8(eight) hours each shift and working for 300 days in a
year both for Knitting and Dyeing & Finishing unit and Garments section is 10 hours per day at
100% capacity.

2.1.4 Raw materials:

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The project will be a Composite unit consisting Knitting unit, Fabric dyeing & finishing
unit and Garments unit. The product of spinning unit .Various kinds of dyes and Chemicals like
as Reactive Dyes, Salt, Caustic Soda, Soda ash, Wax, Hydrogen Per-Oxide, Detergent, Softener
agent etc will be the basic raw material for its fabric dyeing and Finishing unit, which will be
imported. The Dyed and Bleached fabrics are the basic raw materials of its Garments unit, which
will be received from its dyeing and finishing unit.

2.1.5 Management & Organization:

The company will be vested with the Board of management Directors. The Board of
Directors will be formulated companys policies & guide lines for its day to day business
operations. The Managing Director will be the executive head who will look after the business
affairs and other logistic supports of the economy. However Managing Director will be assisted
by the managerial and technical personnel who will be the directors of the company.

2.1.6 Employment Opportunities :

Snow White Cotton Limited is constantly in the process of recruiting and retaining a qualified
professional workforce that reflects the wealthy diversity of the community it operates in.
provides equal employment opportunities based on merit to all persons, regardless of color, race,
religion and sex.
2.1.7 Prepare a garments budget:
Budget is a numerical expression. A good budget can provide a good exported or productive
garment. Without budget a garments cant run correctly. Only by the help of a good budget the
goals can come out. Budget helps to take correct decision and divers the organization properly in
right way. Budget also, shows the capacity of garments in productive market. Only a suitable and
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acceptable budget can run the garments correctly. For this reason budget is essential for the
garments.

2.1.8 The processes of preparing budget in garments are as follows:

Submission of budget request by the units to division head.

Integration of unit budget and consolidated into division budget.

Forwarding of division budget to budget committee.

2.1.9 In garments sector the control is divided in two sections:

Overall/Operational control:

Preliminary control

Screening control

Post action control

Preliminary control:

Preliminary control concentrates on the resources-financial, material, and human and

information-that the organization brings in form the environment. Preliminary control attempts to
monitor the quality or quantity of these resources before they enter the organization.

Screening control:

Screening control focus on meeting standards for products or service quality or quantity during
the actual transformation itself. Screening control relies heavily on feedback process.

Post action control:

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Post action control focus on the outputs of the garments after the transformation process
is complete. Comings old system of Post action control-final inspection after the product is
completed. Although corning abandoned its Post action control system, this still may be an
effective method of control, primarily if a product can be manufactured in only one or two steps
or if the service is fairly simple and routine. Although Post action control alone. may not be as
effective as preliminary or screening control, it can provide management with information for
future planning.
Financial control:
Financial Control is the control of financial resources as they flow into the garments (i.e.,
revenues, investments), are held by the garments (i.e., working capital, retained earning), and
flow out of the garments (i.e., pay expenses). Business must manage their finances so that
revenues are sufficient to cover costs and still return a profit to the firms owners.

2.10 Mission:
Snow White Cotton Limited is a full service vendor with strong vertically integrated production
facilities as well as creative & analytical capabilities which clearly set us apart from most other
South Asian vendors.

2.11 Vision:
Use Innovation &Speed as prime drivers, rather than cotton & cheap labor
Gain market leadership in high value added apparel in USA & Europe.
Dominate these markets in high quality:
a. Men's, Womens, Children
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b. Shirts (Dress & Casual)

c. Tops (formal & casual), Skirts, Jackets
d. Jeans & Casual non -denim bottoms

2.12 Manufacturing process:

For setting up Composite Industries consists of Knitting unit, Fabric Dyeing Finishing
unit and Garments unit. The product of one unit will be the raw material of other unit: The
sequential process from yam manufacture to Garments product may be described as follows.
2.13 Knitting unit:
Knitting machine is various types where various design produces. Fabrics will also be
produce in the circular -Knitting machines by altering some attachments mainly changing of
camas. Rib Knitting and Interlock (double Knitting) fabrics will be produces in the Rib circular
and Interlock Knitting machine. Flat Knitting fabrics for collar and cuff will be produced in the
flat Knitting machine. After the Knit fabrics are produced, it is inspected in running condition
while passing over a table of the inspection machine. The technology involved in Knitted fabrics
is fairly simple which may be seen in the following flow process chart:

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Figure : (2.1.13 A)Activities of Knitting Unit

2.1.14 Fabric Dyeing and Finishing Unit:

The technology involved in dyeing finishing of Knitted fabrics may be seen as below.

2.1.15 Sections for production:

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Administration department
Merchandising Section
Development Section
Commercial & Compliance Section
Planning Section
Sample Section
Cutting, Sewing and Q.C Section
Finishing section
Mechanical & Electrical section

2.16 Types of knitted fabrics:

Weft knitted fabric-It is either made by hand or machine by looping together the lengths
of the year. This supports the fabric to become stretchy and comfortable. Weft-knitted fabrics are
used in socks. T-shirts and jumpers. Warp knitted fabric- It is made by machine only. The loops,
in this kind of fabrics interlock along the length of the fabric. It is only slightly stretchy and it
does not ladder. These are used as swimwear, underwear etc.

Chapter :Three
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Analysis of Problem and prospect

The garment industry of Bangladesh has been the key export division and a main source of
foreign exchange for the last 25 years. Bangladesh exports 35 types of garment products to
about 31 countries around the world. In recent time it is argued that the crisis in the
Garment sector is not only limited to the wages and allowances of the workers.
Productions and exports of the factories have decreased and the price of the apparels is
decreasing in the international market. The owners of this industry allege that, the supply
of gas and electricity is not continuous, because of which they are to use generators to keep
the production process of the factories uninterrupted, resulting in the increasing cost of
productions. But it is urgent to reduce the cost of production to comply with the foreign
buyers' demand and the competitive international price. Moreover, serious and untoward
incidents in the form of chaos and confusions are frequent in this sector on the basis of
petty demands of the workers.

Even if such allegations are true, it cannot also be denied that there occur frequent
abnormal deaths of workers in the garments factories. Major shocking incidents like the
collapse of Rana Plaza in Savar on April 24 2013 killing 1130 workers and crippling about
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another 1500 of 2438 rescued alive and with about 316 missing. Fire incidents in Tazreen
Fashions in Ashulia on November 24 2012 killed at least 112 workers. It is also alleged
that kidney diseases are widespread among the garments workers as they are discouraged
to drink water during duty hours, since this may cause them to repeatedly go to the urinal
causing a loss to work time.
There are some other problems which are associated with this sector. Those are- lack of
marketing tactics, absence of easily on-hand middle management, a small number of
manufacturing methods, lack of training organizations for industrial workers, supervisors and
managers, autocratic approach of nearly all the investors, fewer process units for textiles and
garments, sluggish backward or forward blending procedure, incompetent ports, entry/exit
complicated and loading/unloading takes much time, time-consuming custom clearance etc.

3.1 Problems and

Prospects of the Garments Industry:

Bangladesh garments industry has some severe problems .Problem of garment in Bangladesh is
low wage of the workers. Garment industries do not provide perfect wages to workers. So that
workers do not with much sincerity. Electricity problem is another problem of garment industries
of Bangladesh. It hampers production process. It also reduces production.
Increasing price of raw materials is another problem to garment industries of Bangladesh. Raw
materials are imported by high tax. This is a vital problem to garment industries of Bangladesh.
Employees of garment industries are not well trained. There is no training system for garment
workers in Bangladesh. It is a vital problem to garment industries of Bangladesh.

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Bangladeshi garment owners do not have sufficient capital. So they cannot form large-scale
business and do large-scale production.
Unstable political situation hampers production. Political groups are not aware about this. So in '
hartal ' Bangladeshi garments face a huge loss.
Most of the garments owners are not educated in business administration. Some of them even do
not know about scientific method of keeping accounts. So it is also a major problem of garment
industries of Bangladesh. Bangladeshi garment owners do not have developed technology. So
they cannot produce products so well.
All policies made by government are not favorable to garments. Some times its face problems.
Promotion departments of garments are not active. So selling rate of products is low.

So in this above circumstances it can be easily said that garments of Bangladesh are facing so
many problems. We should come forward all to overcome these problems. Our government
should be more concerned about the solutions of these problems.
The garment industry of Bangladesh has been the key export division and a main source of
foreign exchange for the last 25 years. National labor laws do not apply in the EPZs, leaving
BEPZA in full control over work conditions, wages and benefits. Garment factories in
Bangladesh provide employment to 40 percent of industrial workers. But without the proper laws
the worker are demanding their various wants and as a result conflict is began with the industry
3.1.1Raw materials:

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Bangladesh imports raw materials for garments like cotton, thread color etc. This dependence on
raw materials hampers the development of garments industry. Moreover, foreign suppliers often
supply low quality materials, which result in low quality products
3.1.2 Unskilled workers:
Most of the illiterate women workers employed in garments are unskilled and so their products
often become lower in quality.

3.1.3 Market Diversification:

Bangladesh Garments products are mainly destined to the US and EU. Back in 1996-97,
Bangladesh was the 7th and 5th largest apparel exporter to the USA and European Union
respectively. The industry was successful in exploring the opportunities in markets away from
EU and US. In FY07, a successful turnaround was observed in exports to third countries, which
having a negative growth in FY06 rose three-fold in FY07, which helped to record 23.1 percent
overall export growth in the RMG sector. It is anticipated that the trend of market diversification
will continue and this will help to maintain the growth momentum of export earnings. At the
same time a recent WTO review points out that Bangladesh has not been able to exploit fully the
duty free access to EU that it enjoys. While this is pointed out to be due to stringent rules of
origin (ROO) criteria, the relative stagnation in exports to EU requires further analysis
3.1.4 Improper working environment:
Taking the advantages of workers' poverty and ignorance the owners forced them to work in
unsafe and unhealthy work place overcrowded with workers beyond capacity of the factory floor
and improper ventilation.

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Most of the garment factories in our country lack the basic amenities where our garment workers
sweat their brows from morning to evening to earn our countries the major portion of our foreign
exchange. Anybody visiting the factory the first impression he or she will have that these
workers are in a roost.
Improper ventilation, stuffy situation, filthy rooms are the characteristics of the majority of our
factories. The owners profit are the first priority and this attitude has gone to such an extent that
they do not care about their lives.
3.1.5Lack of managerial knowledge:
There are some other problems which are associated with this sector. Those are- lack of
marketing tactics, absence of easily on-hand middle management, a small number of
manufacturing methods, lack of training organizations for industrial workers, supervisors and
managers, autocratic approach of nearly all the investors, fewer process units for textiles and
garments, sluggish backward or forward blending procedure, incompetent ports, entry/exit
complicated and loading/unloading takes much time, time-consuming custom clearance etc.

3.1.6 Gendered division of labor:

In the garment industry in Bangladesh, tasks are allocated largely on the basis of gender. This
determines many of the working conditions of women workers. All the workers in the sewing
section are women, while almost all those in the cutting, ironing and finishing sections are men.
Women workers are absorbed in a variety of occupations from cutting, sewing, inserting buttons,
making button holes, checking, cleaning the threads, ironing, folding, packing and training to
supervising.
Women work mainly as helpers, machinists and less frequently, as line supervisors and quality
controllers. There are no female cutting masters. Men dominate the administrative and
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management level jobs. Women are discriminated against in terms of access to higher-paid white
collar and management positions.
When asked why they prefer to employ women foe sewing, the owner and managers gave
several reasons. Most felt that sewing is traditionally done by women and that women are more
patient and more controllable than men.

3.1.7 Wages:
The government of Bangladesh sets minimum wages for various categories of workers.
According of Minimum Wage Ordinance 1994, apprentices helpers are to receive Tk500 and
Tk930 per month respectively. Apprentices are helpers who have been working in the garment
industry for less than three months. After three months, Apprentices are appointed as helpers.
Often female helpers are discriminated against in terms of wages levels, and these wages are also
often fixed far below the minimum wage rate. A survey conducted in 1998 showed that 73% of
female helpers, as opposed to 15% of their male counterparts, did not receive even the minimum
wage.

3.1.8 Insufficient of loan:

Insufficiency of loan in time, uncertainly of electricity, delay in getting materials, lack of
communication, problem in taxes etc. Often obstruct the industry. In the world market 115 to 120
items of dress are in demand where as Bangladesh supplies only ten to twelve items of garments.
India, south Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan etc, have made remarkable
progress in garments industries. Bangladesh is going to challenge the garments of those countries
in the world market.
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3.1.9 Unit labor cost:

Bangladesh has the cheapest unit labor cost in South Asia. It costs only 11 cents to produce a
shirt in Bangladesh, whereas it costs 79 cents in Sri Lanka and 26 cents in India. Clearly,
Bangladeshs comparative advantage lies in having the cheapest unit labor cost.
10. Working hours:
Though the wages are low, the working hours are very long. The Garments factories claim to
operate one eight-hour shift six days a week. The 1965 factory Act allows women to work
delivery deadlines; however, women are virtually compelled to work after 8 oclock. Sometimes
they work until 3 oclock in the morning and report back to start work again five hours later are 8
oclock. They are asked to work whole months at a time the Factory Act, which stipulates that no
employee should work more than ten days consecutively without a break.

3.1.11 Poor accommodation facilities:

As most of the garment workers come from the poor family and comes from the remote areas
and they have to attend to the duties on time, these workers have to hire a room near the factory
where four to five huddle in a room and spend life in sub human condition.
For four to five workers there is one common latrine and a kitchen for which they have to pay
from Tk=2000 to Tk=2500/-.They share this amount among themselves to minimize the
accommodation expense.
One cannot believe their eyes in what horrible condition they have to pass out their time after
almost whole day of hard work in the factory. After laborious job they come into their roost,
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cook their food and have their dinner or lunch in unhygienic floor or bed and sleep where they
take their food. They share the single bed or sleep on the floor.
The owners of these factories must not treat the workers as animals. The owners of these
factories who drive the most luxurious car and live in most luxurious house do ever think that
these are the workers who have made their living so juicy. Will these selfish owners ever think of
these workers of their better living for the sake of humanity by providing better accommodation
for these workers in addition to providing with the job.
12.Child Labor:
In recent years, international debate on child labor has intensified. The elimination of child labor
is also among the core labor standards in the ILO Convention. The Harkin Bill placed at the US
Senate entitled The Child Labor Deterrence Act of 1993 which called for the elimination of
child labor in the export oriented manufacturing and mining industries. As a consequence many
garment industries had to retrench child workers from their factories. In many countries these
retrenched children ended up in more strenuous and less-remunerative jobs, or worst, turned to
begging in the street. The Bangladesh RMG sector set a unique example through collective
efforts which eventually led to the development of a safety-net program for the child labors. The
BGMEA/ILO/ UNICEF Child Labor Project in the garment industry of Bangladesh, funded by
the US Development of Labor was the first of a series of child labor programs executed by the
International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor of the ILO. This project, initiated in
1995, is based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the BGMEA and two
international organizations, the ILO and UNICEF, with the aim of progressively phasing out
child labor from more than 2,500 factories that are members of the association.

13. Safety Problems:

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Because of the carelessness of the factory management and for their arrogance factory doors
used to be kept locked for security reason defying act
Safety need for the worker is mandatory to maintain in all the organization. But without the
facility of this necessary product a lot of accident is occur incurred every year in most of the
company. Some important cause of the accident are given below Routes are blocked by storage materials
Machine layout is often staggered
Lack of signage for escape route
No provision for emergency lighting
Doors, opening along escape routes, are not fire resistant
Doors are not self-closing and often do not open along the direction of escape
Adequate doors as well as adequate staircases are not provided to aid quick exit
Fire exit or emergency staircase lacks proper maintenance
Lack of proper exit route to reach the place of safety
Parked vehicles, goods and rubbish on the outside of the building obstruct exits to the open air
Fire in a Bangladesh factory is likely to spread quickly because the principle of
compartmentalization is practiced

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3,1,14 Political crisis:

Garments industries often pay dearly for political unrest, hartal and terrorism etc.
The international market has withdrawn quota advantage over garments export form Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has to advance cautiously for getting better position of her garments in the world
market. Finally destruction of twin tower in 11September 2001. invasion on Afghanistan and Iraq
and depression in world Economy have seriously affected the export trade of Bangladesh.
3.1.15 Price competitiveness:
China and some other competitors of Bangladesh have implemented sharp price-cutting policies
in exporting garment products over the last few years, but Bangladesh has failed to respond
effectively to such policies. China was able to drop the export price of 29 garment categories by
46 per cent on average in the United States within a year, from $6.23 per sq meter in December
2001 to $3.37 per sq meter in December 2002. Bangladesh needs to respond to such price-cutting
policies of its rivals in order to remain competitive in the quota-free global market.
3.1.16 Lead time:
Lead time refers to the time required for supplying the ordered garment products after the export
order has been received.
In the 1980s, the usual lead time in the garment industry was 120-150 days for the main garment
supplier countries of the world; it has been reduced to 30-40 days in the current decade.
However, in this regard the Bangladesh RMG industry has improved little; for example, the
average lead time is 90-120 days for woven garment firms and 60-80 days for knit garment
firms. In China, the average lead time is 40-60 days and 50-60 days for woven and knit products
respectively; in India, it is 50-70 days and 60-70 days for the same products respectively.
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3.1.17 Research and Training:

The country has no dedicated research institute. Garments is highly fashion oriented and constant
market research is necessary to become successful in the Export. BGMEA has already
established an institute which offers bachelors degree in fashion designing and BKMEA is
planning on setting up a research and training institute. These and related initiatives need
encouragement possibly intermediated by donor-assisted technology and knowledge transfer. A
facilitating public sector role can be very relevant here.

3.2 Challenge of Globalization & Prospects of the Garments

Industry:

Bangladesh faces the challenge of achieving accelerated economic growth and alleviating the
massive poverty that afflicts nearly two-fifths of its 135 million people. To meet this challenge,
market-oriented liberalizing policy reforms were initiated in the mid-1980s and were pursued
much more vigorously in the 1990s. These reforms were particularly aimed at moving towards
an open economic regime and integrating with the global economy.
During the 1990s, notable progress was made in economic performance. Along with maintaining
economic stabilization with a significantly reduced and declining dependence on foreign aid, the
economy appeared to begin a transition from stabilization to growth. The average annual growth
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in per capita income had steadily accelerated from about 1.6 per cent per annum in the first half
of the 1980s to 3.6 percent by the latter half of the 1990s. This improved performance owed itself
both to a slowdown in population growth and a sustained increase in the rate of GDP growth,
which averaged 5.2 percent annually during the second half of the 1990s. During this time,
progress in the human development indicators was even more impressive. Bangladesh was in
fact among the top performing countries in the 1990s, when measured by its improvement in the
Human Development Index (HDI) as estimated by the United Nations Development Project
(UNDP). In terms of the increase in the value of HDI between 1990 and 2001, Bangladesh is
surpassed only by China and Cape Verde.

While most low-income countries depend largely on the export of primary commodities,
Bangladesh has made the transition from being primarily a jute-exporting country to a garmentexporting one. This transition has been dictated by the countrys resource endowment,
characterized by extreme land scarcity and a very high population density, making economic
growth dependent on the export of labor-intensive manufactures.
In the wake of the 2001 global recession, Bangladeshs reliance on foreign countries as a market
for exports and as a source of remittances has become obvious. If Bangladesh is to become less
vulnerable to the economic fortunes of others, it will need to strengthen its domestic economy,
creating jobs and markets at home. A strong domestic sector and an improved overall investment
environment will provide a more stable source of income like what the garment industry has
provided so far and will rekindle and sustain Bangladeshs economic growth.

3.3 Supportive Government Policy:

In contrast to the public sector-led import-substituting industrialization strategy pursued during

the first few years after independence, the industrialization philosophy of the government
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changed rather dramatically from the late 1970s when the emphasis was on export-oriented
growth to be spearheaded by the private sector. Towards this end, various policy reforms were
implemented in the 1980s and 1990s. Some of these reformed policies contributed considerably
to the growth of the Garments industry in Bangladesh.
During the 1980s, a number of incentives were introduced to encourage export activities. Some
of them were new like the Bonded Warehouse Facility (BWF), while others like the Export
Performance License (XPL) Scheme 37 were already in operation and were improved upon.
Also, rebates were given on import duties and indirect taxes, there were tax reductions on export
income, and export financing was arranged. Under the XPL scheme, exporters of non-traditional
products received import licenses for specific products over and above their normal percentage
allotment based on the f.o.b. value of their exports.
Under the Duty Drawback System, exporters of manufactured goods were entitled to get refund
of duties and taxes paid on imported inputs used in export production, and also all excise duties
paid on exported finished goods. For certain fast-moving items such as Garments, a notional
system of duty payments was adopted in 1982-83. Under this system, exporters were exempted
from paying duties and taxes on imports used in export production at the time of importation, but
were required to keep records of raw and 21packaging materials imported. The duties and taxes
payable on the imports were kept in a suspense account. Liabilities to pay the amounts in
suspense were removed on proof of exports.
The discussion in this section clearly points to the positive contribution made by policy reforms
to the growth of the Garments industry in Bangladesh. In particular, two policies the SBW
facility and the back-to-back L/C system- led to significant reduction in cost of producing
garments and enhanced competitiveness of Bangladeshs garments exports. It also allowed
garment manufacturers to earn more profit which, when necessary, could be used to overcome
difficulties arising from weak governance. Furthermore, poor governance, reflected in the
leakage of duty-free imported fabrics in the domestic market, paradoxically enough also helped
the garment manufacturers to earn extra profit and thereby enabled them to absorb the high
cost of doing Exports a fall out of bad governance.
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Chapter: Four
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Finding

4.1 Findings of Study:

The international trade of textiles is highly competitive. Skill, design and quality are essential.
But, equally important is the need to assess national and international demands and integrate
them into the production process. There is no doubt that very few of the Bangladeshi designers
know the international markets. There is a unison cry in Bangladesh saying that they need help
from foreign designers to make their products marketable internationally. This is even more the
case if the products are going to be developed into high-value niche products.
There are very few designers in the garment industry or in crafts with a degree in design. The
ones that do have a design education are educated abroad many in India and some in the West.
Some of the designers working in the craft Exports have an education from Institute of Fine Arts,
University of Dhaka. Although this educational background in combination with experience from
the craft Exports, in many cases seem to work well, some say that a lot of people in the trade do
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not understand the difference between an artist and a designer, Design is planning step by step
and the artists do not know how to do that. Others say that the creativity exists, but the
understanding of the market is lacking. Designers, of whatever level of training, who can work
for a domestic market, are undoubtedly in advantageous position.
The practice of trial and error is certainly of value and a lot less costly. The exposure to shifting
trends allows a designer to develop a sense of the market and, in time, the ability to predict
market trends and design with confidence to meet the demands. If a designer is required to
design for a foreign rather than local market, then certain skills are not able to develop in a full
and relevant way.
The problem is the same for designers either in industry or crafts. In many respects, they are
being asked to design for virtual situations only. After all, very few of the designers in these
Exports will ever get the chance to visit the markets they design for, let alone be able to spend
time enough in them to really develop an understanding of the nuances of a situation.
Accordingly, western designers can best help with the designs for the export markets of
Bangladesh. However, as the local market is changing rapidly due to increased buying power of
internationally-oriented middle class, the products designed for the export market may very well
have a future in the local market.
The garment industry of Bangladesh has been the key export division and a main source of
foreign exchange for the last 25 years. National labor laws do not apply in the EPZs, leaving
BEPZA in full control over work conditions, wages and benefits. Garment factories in
Bangladesh provide employment to 40 percent of industrial workers. But without the proper laws
the worker are demanding their various wants and as a result conflict is began with the industry.
Low working salary is another vital fact which makes the labor conflict. Worker made strike,
layout to capture their demand. Some time bonus and the overtime salary are the important cause
of crisis. Insufficient government policy about this sector is a great problem in Garments
Company.

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There are some other problems which are associated with this sector. Those are- lack of
marketing tactics, absence of easily on-hand middle management, a small number of
manufacturing methods, lack of training organizations for industrial workers, supervisors and
managers, autocratic approach of nearly all the investors, fewer process units for textiles and
garments, sluggish backward or forward blending procedure, incompetent ports, entry/exit
complicated and loading/unloading takes much time, time-consuming custom clearance etc.
4.2 Strength, Weakness, Opportunity & Threat of Snow White Cotton
Ltd:
A shot analysis is overall evaluation of the Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat.
Strength and Weakness are internal value creating (or destroying) factors such as assets, skills or
resources etc. And Opportunities and Threat are external value creating (or destroying) factors a
company unable to control
Strength :

Considerable Qualified to learn workforce available at low labor charges.

Energy at low price

Moderately open Economy, particularly in the Export Promotion Zones.

Excellent Tele-communications network of E-mail, Internet, Fax, ISD, NWD & Cellular
services.

Weakness of currency against dollar and the condition will persist to help exporters

Bank interest@ 7% for financing exports

Weakness :

Lack of marketing tactics

Absence of easily on-hand middle management

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Incompetent ports, entry/exit complicated and loading/unloading takes much time

Unreliable dependability regarding Delivery/QA/Product knowledge

Communication gap created by incomplete knowledge of English

Opportunity :

Snow white cotton Ltd is willing to establish industry in a big way as an option to china
particularly for knits.

If skilled technicians are available to instruct, prearranged garment is an option because

labor .

Energy cost are inexpensive.

Threats:

Electricity facility is not available to run Snow White Cotton Ltd smoothly.
Infrastructure is not well developed according to buyer requirement.
Wages structure is not good according to industry of labor. They are deprived from their

normal wages most of the time.

Gender discrimination is present here.
Unstable political condition is one of the main threats for Bangladesh.
In the recession of the world economy, order from buyers has declined and price is also

low.
Transport facility is not so healthy as a result garments goods take a long time to reach in
the port.

4. 3Snow White Cotton Ltd Problems:

4.3.1. Lack of availability of Raw material:
Raw material availability is a vital area for Snow White cotton industry, whereas uncertainty is
frequent price fluctuations, the mismatch between supply and demand, lack of proper forecasting
of political decisions and other commitment.
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4.3.2.Labor :
Skilled labor in the basic, requirement. Some big industries spend huge time and money on
training, but unfortunately there is no assurance or binding on the part of trained labors to
continue to work in one place
4.3.3. Inflexible working

Hours :

Working hours are usually long and irregular. Working the longest day at an average of 10
hours. During peak seasons, however, the workday could extend to between 10 and 20 hour.
4.3.4. Health and Safety:
Home workers rarely have appropriate protective equipment and may be unaware of safety
measures. Health risks in the garment industry include repetitive strain, dust from cloth pieces
and, in the case of some dyes, exposure to poisonous chemicals .Family members can be equally
at risk of exposure.
4.3.5. Political crisis:
Bangladesh has to advance cautiously for getting better position of her garments in the world
market. Garment industries often pay dearly for political unrest, hartal and terrorism etc.

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Chapter :Five

Recommendations and Conclusion

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5.1 Recommendation :
In order to sustain the smooth growth and development of the garment industry of Bangladesh,
Government should play a key role to offer a good export policy. Otherwise the production,
employment, earning of foreign currency and economic development of the country will be
affected seriously. Some recommendations have been offered to face the problems of the garment
industry of Bangladesh. Regarding the problem of Garments sector Ive identified some
recommendation for the betterment of this sector. The recommendations are as follows:
The Government of Bangladesh should play a key role for the expansion of the
market of garment by diversified items for manufacture and export. It is very
important fact that there are many items in the Garments product lines which
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Bangladeshi entrepreneurs have not yet started production. Leather items, life jackets,
gloves, bags etc. are among few such items. Among other items are umbrella, nylon
school bags and jackets, ice sport kits and wears, staffed toys, high competitive
market fashion garments are examples. There are numerous such items not yet
touched by our entrepreneurs.
Government also have some responsibility to improve the situation by providingproper policy to protect the garments industries, solve the license problem, quickly
loading facility in the port, providing proper environment for the work, keep the
industry free from all kind of political problem and the biasness. Credit must be
provided when the industry fall in need.
Make sure that delivery of exported products by the due date. Because it increases the
goodwill of the companies. If for any reasons the garments companies fail to delivery
the products on the date it might hamper its goodwill and if the goodwill of a
companies are hamper it is not possible for them to survive in the international
market.

We know that because of the increasing of the price of raw materials the cost of
production of the garments products are also increases. So if the production cost
increases the price of the finish goods also increase and because of that we cant offer
the buyer at a lower price in any garments products and for this reason there is a
chance for our RMG companies to lose their position in the international market and
in this situation anybody can take the chance to hold their place. In this case the RMG
companies can produce the raw materials in domestically. We know that the main raw
material of this sector is cotton. So if it can produce domestically the cost of
production can be minimizing.
It is a big problem for our country that there is small number of qualified product
designers available in garments sector but it is so important for our RMG Export.
Because we know there is a lot of competition in the international market and in their
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every country want to introduce new products with new design. We know that todays
world is very much style sensitive and the style changes very rapidly. For this reason
to solve this problem our government can start some training center where the
employee can improve their skill and also the RMG companies can establish that
kinds of center personally or they can send some persons outside of the country
because of training.
To ensure any kinds of the security of the foreign buyers the RMG companies have to
take any necessary steps which the buyer say them. For this purpose they can rent a
house of a hotel which is safety for them and ensure all the basic facilities. Sometimes
they can rent some vehicles for their easy transportation. They can provide them
delicious foods what they like to eat.
Our Garments Industries can improve their position in the world map by reducing the
overall problems. Such as management labor conflict, proper management policy,
efficiency of the manager, maintainable time schedule for the product, proper
strategic plan etc.
To be an upper position holder in the world Garments Sector there is no way except follow the
above recommendations. We hope by maintaining proper management and policy strategies our
country will take the apex position in future
5.2 Conclusion:
The Garments industry occupies a unique position in the Bangladesh economy. It is the largest
exporting industry in Bangladesh, which experienced phenomenal growth during the last 25
years. By taking advantage of an insulated market under the provision of Multi Fiber Agreement
(MFA) of GATT, it attained a high profile in terms of foreign exchange earnings, exports,
industrialization and contribution to GDP within a short span of time. The industry plays a key
role in employment generation and in the provision of income to the poor. To remain competitive
in the post-MFA phase, Bangladesh needs to remove all the structural impediments in the
transportation facilities, telecommunication network, and power supply, management of seaport,
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utility services and in the law and order situation. The government and the Garments sector
would have to jointly work together to maintain competitiveness in the global garments market.
Given the remarkable entrepreneurial initiatives and the dedication of its workforce, Bangladesh
can look forward to advancing its share of the global Garments market.

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Sector of Bangladesh Journal of Business Administration, Vol.23, No. 3 & 4, Page 41-69
Azim, M. Tahlil, and Nair Uddin, 2003, Challenges for Garments Sector in Bangladesh after 2004:
Avenues for Survival and Growth Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
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Bhattacharya, D, M. Rahman and A. Raihan, 2002, Contribution of the RMG Sector to the Bangladesh
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