Jisan Al Jubair:
In the bustling garment factories of Dhaka, shadows lengthen with the setting sun. But it’s not just another workday’s end casting gloom. Elon Musk’s humanoid robot, Optimus, looms large, threatening to eclipse the future of Bangladesh’s RMG (ready-made garment) industry, the lifeblood of millions. Should we panic? Maybe not. But a cautious dance with automation is called for.
Optimus, with its superhuman efficiency and tireless work ethic, is a potent symbol of the coming wave of automation. Bangladesh, with its reliance on low-cost, repetitive labor, stands directly in its path. The fear is palpable: jobs could vanish, families crumble, and a vital engine of the economy sputter out.
Yet, dismissing Optimus as a harbinger of doom is simplistic. The human touch remains irreplaceable in RMG. The intricate artistry of design, the deftness of patternmaking, the eagle eye of quality control – these are tasks beyond the cold grasp of robotics. High-skilled jobs in these areas are unlikely to be snatched away.
The threat, however, lies in the mundane. Stitching, assembling, ironing – these repetitive tasks are ripe for automation. The specter of mass job displacement for low-skilled workers is real, potentially triggering cascading social and economic consequences.
But Bangladesh doesn’t have to play passive witness to this automated drama. It can adapt, reshape, and even thrive in this new reality. The key lies in a three-pronged approach:
Invest in programs that equip workers with the digital and technical skills needed to navigate the changing landscape. Robotics training, data analysis, and design thinking should become the new lingua franca of the RMG workforce.
Move beyond the sweatshop model and embrace high-end garments, sustainable practices, and niche markets. These areas not only require greater human ingenuity but also command premium prices, benefiting both workers and businesses.
The government, industry, and academic institutions must join forces to foster innovation in RMG. Develop robots that collaborate with humans, handle dangerous tasks, and boost efficiency without displacing workers. Imagine Optimus not as a job thief, but as a tireless assistant.
Despite recent jitters, Bangladesh’s RMG export story remains surprisingly vibrant. While the latest quarter saw a dip compared to the earlier surge, data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) shows remarkable year-on-year growth for FY23 – over $42 billion, a staggering 35% jump from the year before.
Knitwear takes the spotlight, dazzling with a 2.45% increase, while woven garments, though facing a 5.52% dip, still exhibit impressive resilience. The cherry on top: net export earnings continue to shine, with Bangladesh capturing over 70% of gross exports, indicating an encouraging rise in value retention within the sector.
Challenges lurk around the corner. A potential global economic slowdown, simmering geopolitical tensions, and the specter of rising costs threaten to dampen future momentum. To maintain its hard-won lead in the fiercely competitive RMG world, Bangladesh must continue its unwavering pursuit of diversification, value addition, and, most importantly, upskilling its workforce.
However, Optimus presents Bangladesh’s RMG industry with a stark choice: resist and risk irrelevance, or embrace and rewrite the narrative. By investing in its people, embracing innovation, and climbing the value chain, Bangladesh can stitch a future where humans and robots work in harmony, weaving a tapestry of prosperity and resilience. The clock is ticking, but the needle, thankfully, remains in Bangladesh’s hands.
