New membership rules set by BGMEA to uphold factory safety
Business Report :
The apex body of Bangladesh’s apparel sector, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), has introduced stricter criteria for granting membership to garment factories, aiming to uphold minimum operational and safety standards.
Under the new rules, factories located in shared buildings with other establishments such as banks, insurance offices, or markets will no longer be eligible for BGMEA registration.
However, buildings that house only garment units may be considered for membership approval.
The decision, finalised in a notification on the last week, follows the BGMEA board’s third meeting on November 5. The trade body said the measures are designed to promote a sustainable ready-made garment (RMG) industry and support the country’s socio-economic development.
New criteria require woven or knit garment factories to operate at least 100 machines, while sweater factories must have a minimum of 60 machines. Additionally, factories must maintain a floor space of at least 15,000 square feet to qualify for BGMEA membership.
Factories seeking reinstatement of membership will also need to submit updated trade licences, tax certificates, and factory licences, along with clearance of any outstanding dues.
BGMEA Senior Vice President Inamul Haq Khan said the measures were taken to ensure minimum safety and operational standards and to prevent accidents. “Fire incidents in BGMEA member factories have declined significantly over the past several years and are now rare,” he added.
He emphasized that the association, as an owners’ trade body, is often held responsible whenever incidents occur in garment factories, regardless of whether the factory is a member. “We won’t provide membership to any sick industry,” Mr Khan said, noting that most non-compliance and wage-related issues are found in non-member factories operating under national initiatives.
Citing a recent fire at a chemical factory in the capital, Mr Khan said a nearby non-BGMEA garment unit caught fire due to sparks originating from the chemical facility, highlighting the risks of non-compliant operations.
Currently, BGMEA has around 4,500 member factories, with 60 percent producing woven garments and 40 percent knitwear and sweaters. BGMEA members account for 100 percent of woven garment exports, over 95 percent of sweater shipments, and roughly half of light knitwear exports.
Bangladesh earned US$39.34 billion from RMG exports in the last fiscal year (FY25), underscoring the importance of maintaining safety and operational standards in the sector.