H&M limits Bangladesh office ops on coronavirus fear

H&M, a Swedish clothing retail company, has put a limit on its operations in Bangladesh Office as a precautionary measure following the identification of people infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

Although H&M restricted activities in Bangladesh office, the retailer announced continuing its procurement from the country.

The European fashion brand on Sunday informed its Bangladeshi suppliers in a letter that Bangladesh office of H&M would remain open with limited activities and a lot of staff would work from home.

The letter sent by H&M country manager Ziaur Rahman said that the retailer had taken the initiative as a precautionary measure as people with coronavirus infection had been found in Bangladesh.

According to the letter, H&M cancelled its staff’s factory visit until issuing further notice and the country manager would communicate with the suppliers time to time about the decision of the retail company.

The retailer requested its suppliers to inspect the goods by themselves and ship them accordingly and saying that the instruction would be valid for all brands of H&M Group.

‘I am sure, our suppliers will not let us down rather they will act as a role model during this situation,’ Zia said in the letter.

Bangladesh office of the global clothing company cancelled all meetings with external visitors and requested suppliers to contact with the company digitally through mobile, email and video call. The retailer also requested suppliers to continue producing the orders of H&M Group that the company had placed already.

‘If we see that we need to act differently, concern function managers will communicate with you with reference,’ the letter read.

The letter also instructed suppliers to send notification to the retailer if any member of supplier factories found affected.

‘If the situation leads to “factory closure”, we request you to send notification to us directly,’ Zia said in his letter.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association is going to open ‘BGMEA-Corona Control Room’ at its headquarters at Uttara in the capital, Dhaka.

BGMEA president Rubana Huq said that they instructed factory owners to make active occupational safety and health committee in each factory.

The committee would hold awareness session in each factory to combat coronavirus, she said.

The BGMEA also instructed its members to hang the instructions regarding coronavirus published by the health ministry on the gate and staircase of each factory. (Source: New Age)