51.   The companies offered seed, fertilizer, labour cost and a guaranteed price for selected crops.

52.   The company said should all its activities be continued by a new owner, drastic efforts to reduce costs will be made, including labour costs.

53.   The rise was largely attributable torising land and labour costs and speculation.

54.   The survey focused on business indicators such as labour costs,education level of the workforce, office rental costs, crime levels andothers.

55.   The supervisor was worried that other food-chain owners might use the same strategy to reduce their labour cost.

56.   Therefore, factories which are labour-intensive can profitably relocate to Bangladesh and take advantage of the low labour costs.

57.   These companies strategically plan activities in areas with low labour costs and with favourable conditions such as the lack of environmental protection.

58.   These factors, among others, could be due to supply and demand, transportation and labour costs.

59.   This leaves labour costs as the main factor subject to adjustments.

60.   While rising labour costs are of concern and higher than those in other countries in the region, he said the wages currently being paid are reasonable.