The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE RMG workers held demonstration in the city the other day to press home their demands for Eid bonus. Workers from twenty garment factories in the Malibagh-Rampura areas indulged in violent protests against alleged denial of the factory owners to pay bonus. Workers have been demanding Eid bonus for some days. They also want a twenty-percent wage hike. The Ministry of Commerce recently directed the garment factory owners to solve the wage enhancement issue with workers within a specified timeframe with a view to averting workers' unrest. Those factory owners who have not yet implemented the minimum wage award were directed to do the same immediately. The timeframe is about to end very soon. No report has yet been received regarding the progress of implementation of the government directives.

In recent months, Bangladesh witnessed waves of agitation by RMG workers. Some of those movements were allegedly instigated by hostile forces to create anarchy in the sector. Some of the movements were attributed to diverse unfounded rumours. However, it is difficult to accept that mere instigation from alien forces can prompt series of movements in the RMG factories. Rather strong allegations are there that the garment workers are very often deprived of their legitimate wages and allowances. Arbitrary deduction of workers' overtime pay by factory owners and delayed payments are reported from time to time. Without genuine grievances the workers cannot resort to desperate movements risking their jobs. Without removal of such grievances, police guard and the use of force would not ensure complete safety of the factories. Closure of factories, as has been threatened by a section of factory owners, is not the solution because, in that case, not only the workers will lose jobs but also the factory owners will also incur heavy losses. The factory owners should, therefore, take the workers into confidence.