The garment accessories manufacturers have called upon the government to allow duty-free import of per-fabricated building material under bonded facility in the next budget to ensure workplace safety. Bangladesh Garments Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) made the call in its budget proposal for the fiscal year 2017-18 placed to the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The NBR will hold pre-budget talks with stakeholders of RMG accessories and others on April 06. “Manufacturers of garment accessories are facing pressure from global retailers in making factory safe. Now a good number of pre-fabricated buildings need to be painted with fire-proof quoted paint,” BGAPMEA president Md Abdul Kader Khan told the Dhaka Tribune. Though the government allowed duty-free import of fabricated building material, it did not provide tax exemption, said Kader. “So we urge the government to allow duty-free import of paint under bonded facility.” The BGAPMEA leader also demanded duty-free fire resistance door, sprinkler system and equipment and emergency light with exit sign to help ensure compliance. The trade body of accessories called upon the government to bring down tax at source to 0.5% from the existing 0.70%. It also called for reduction in corporate tax to 15% from existing 35% as the cost of doing business went up due to expenses on safety upgradation. Expenditure like wages and transport fare increased substantially in recent days. So, the government should keep the rate of tax at source at a reasonable level, according to the proposal, said Kader. In the proposal, BGAPMEA placed a set of demands including cash incentives against export and declaring the factory premises as bonded area. The manufacturers said although the sector is meeting the local demand for garment accessories, they are yet to get any incentive from the government. Export-oriented industries like apparel get such facilities, but the accessories makers do not get any, which are necessary for the development of the sector. According to the proposal, BGAPMEA has taken initiative to set up a garment accessories and packaging institute for the development of industry by carrying out research, and so sought allocation from the government in the next budget.
