Free transport helps denim workers during lockdown
Bangladesh-based denim producer Denim Expert provided free transportation for its workers at the start of July in the face of a new nationwide lockdown in response to covid-19.
The government imposed the new lockdown on July 1, saying initially that it would be for seven days. Ready-made garment factories have been allowed to stay open, provided they can provide workers with covid-safe environment on the premises.
Denim Expert said it wanted to keep production going to secure livelihoods as well as ensuring workers’ health and safety. But founder, Mostafiz Uddin, realised he would also need to help his employees go to and from the factory because of the effect of the lockdown on public transport.
He arranged free transport to pick each worker up from home and drop them off again at the end of the working day. He said this had helped Denim Export record 96% attendance during the lockdown.
