Speakers at a dialogue on Monday said advanced technologies can significantly boost productivity, improve quality control, and lower operational costs, ensuring that Bangladesh’s RMG sector maintains its competitive edge internationally.
They said embracing automation allows the industry to meet increasing demand for high-quality products with shorter lead times—critical for international buyers.
LightCastle Partners, an international leading business consultancy firm, organized the event in partnership with Policy Exchange Bangladesh. Speakers stressed proactive steps to support Ready-Made Garment (RMG) workers who are at risk of unemployment as automation continues to grow in Bangladesh’s garment sector.
Automation, while presenting challenges for the workforce, is also key to enhancing the industry’s global competitiveness.
In the next two years, 80% of garment factory owners in Bangladesh plan to invest in automated machines, according to data from a research which was presented by LightCastle Partners at a dialogue event held in Gulshan.
Automation in the sector is expected to grow by over 13% during this period. Despite the increase in efficiency and projected production increases of up to 22%, concerns about rising unemployment persist. Out of an average of 2,250 workers per factory, only 500 are expected to be directly involved with automation processes, leaving many workers at risk.This was presented at a dialogue event held at a hotel in the capital’s Gulshan on Monday (October 21, 2024).
Speaking at the event, Zahedul Amin, Co-founder and Director of LightCastle Partners, delivered a keynote presentation titled "Future-Proofing RMG: Tackling Automation for Sustainable Growth and Worker Wellbeing."
He highlighted the need for a balanced approach that supports industry competitiveness through automation while safeguarding the workforce through upskilling and reskilling initiative
The event emphasized the need for urgent action to address the potential impacts of automation on the workforce, calling for recommendations that ensure sustainable growth while protecting the livelihoods of garment workers.
During his presentation, Zahedul Amin shared findings from a recent research that showed 93% of garment operators in Bangladesh are willing to work with automated machines, with 70% of female workers expressing interest in gaining new skills for operating modern machinery.
Dr. M Masrur Reaz, Chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, moderated the dialogue, where industry leaders and experts discussed the pressing issues.
Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj, Country Representative of The Asia Foundation, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the need for collective action to future-proof the RMG industry.
Also speaking at the event were Professor Dr. Engineer Ayub Nabi Khan, Vice-Chancellor of BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT), Shams Zaman, Country Manager of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Bangladesh, and Habibullah N Karim, Founder and CEO of Technohaven Company Limited.
