Bangladesh cabinet to bring the apparel sector under a legal framework as industries operate as per government's executive orders yesterday approved the draft Textile Act-2017 Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam after a cabinet meeting at the secretariat said.

All industries related to the textiles sector, such as garment production and marketing, must be registered with the Directorate of Textiles.

The directorate will look after, supervise and monitor the textiles industries. As per the draft act, entrepreneurs will have to obtain a licence from the directorate to set up any textile or apparel unit.

Besides, authorised officers will have the power to collect samples from the market and verify the standard of any imported textile raw material, such as colour or chemicals.

The cabinet also gave consent to the draft Expatriate Welfare Board Act-2017. The act has been formulated in line with international laws and conventions on the protection of migrants and their family members.

The proposed law will enable migrant workers to seek assistance and cooperation when they face troubles such as illness and death.

The concerned authorities will have to extend legal or other assistance to the expatriates to help them realize compensation for any kind of loss, according to the cabinet secretary.