The New Nation - Internet Edition

A RECENT study on the Readymade Garment sector by the Directorate of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) reveals an alarming picture and exposes the causes behind labour unrest. It gives a different explanation of the workers’ agitation termed as the outcome of conspiracies by some interested quarters. According media reports, DIFE conducted the study covering 1596 factories last year. The study shows, 145 garment manufacturers have not implemented the minimum wage award of Tk 1660 per month while 262 factories do not pay regular salary to workers. The study found 223 factories not paying overtime pay while the working condition in at least 319 factories is 'below standard’.

A source close to DIFE is reported to have identified irregular payment of salary to tens of thousands of workers as the cause behind the recent unrest in the garment factories. DIFE sued 78 garment manufacturers and is going to lodge cases against another 100 factories for violating key labour laws. However, rejecting the study report of DIFE as 'baseless’, BGMEA and the BKMEA leaders claimed that only 24 factories had not implemented the minimum wage award. Earlier, the labour unrests were ascribed to conspiracies by some vested quarters. Such an allegation might have some elements of truth. But it seems not to have addressed the real cause. The findings of the DIFE seem not altogether unfounded as garment manufacturers agree that at least some of the factories do not comply with the labour laws. Some factory owners might consider non-compliance with the labour laws or irregular payment of workers as a gain. This apparent gain might turn into ultimate loss. At stake is the very future of this vital sector of the economy that provides employment for more than 2.4 million workers and brings in 76 per cent of the country’s annual foreign exchange earnings.

Bangladesh, the second highest readymade garment exporter, now faces tough competition in international markets. It is thus the time for all concerned to sit together to identify the real causes of labour unrest and work out an agreed solution. First of all, the sense of deprivation must be removed from the minds of the workers, otherwise mere punitive measures by the law enforcing agencies will not be able to stop workers from taking part in agitation. The stakeholders including the government should evolve a mechanism to have an eye on the grievances of the workers and mitigate them. It must be realised that violation of labour laws, irregular payment and the resultant unrest would only divert foreign buyers to other exporters.