The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md. Masum Billah

Garments industry in Bangladesh stands as the largest foreign remittance earner . It is striving to retain its leading position in this field and the people concerned are working untiringly. Government is also working hard to reach the goal. But some unhappy events have emerged as potential threats in this sector. It calls for more attention in the greater interest of our national economy. Discontentment and frustration among RMG workers have been prevailing for long in the sector and there might be an outburst any time paralyzing the sector. Necessary steps need to be taken before any serous destabilization.

BGMEA will monitor whether all the garments have the capability to fulfill the tripartite contacts signed in 2006. if not, the workers working in those factories will be apprised of the genuine condition and asked if they are ready to work in this situation. The question of manipulation and deception should be erased from this sector. When the workers agree to work in the real situation explained to them, no third party could intervene. They will work for the betterment of the industry. When it will see better days, the workers will also enjoy more facilities. The owners will not be allowed to employ new people throwing them out. BGMEA also have to monitor the thriving garments units must pay the salary and benefits to the workers as per conditions. The security reasons must be established from three points of view. First, the garments itself should arrange ample security, second BGMEA and third government. There must be intelligence units from the government to see why and how the unruliness happen.

Due to security reasons 870 garments were threatened to be closed in the month of September sending ten lakh workers unemployed and 70% of them women. On September 6, 91 garment owners of Gazipur met BGMEA president and told him their decision to close down the industry. "To corner the government this decision was taken"--some worker leaders opined. If it had been done, it would exercise impact on politics. Arrear bill, salary, overtime, peace rate, sacking workers, high price of essentials, leave, bonus, tiffin stand as the main reasons of anarchy in the garments sector. Some of these issues are small which could be resolved easily. While ome of them are big enough and they call for BGMEA and government intervention. Combined garments Labour Federation president-Nazma Akter said, " Closing garment industries will not show the solution." Out of 25 lakh garments workers in Bangladesh ten lakh at Gazipur. Due to burning situation in many garment factories during the month of September many foreign buyers took back 50% order causing lakhs of dollars everyday. The figure definitely tells a colossal amount. I think everybody's interest is concerned here. President of Bangladesh Jano Swadhin Garment Worker leader Advocate Delwar Hossain Khan said, " Owners have taken this decision just to create pressure on government and to get several benefits from the government. Fulfilling the rights of lbaourers and not to suppress them hold the solution." Actually e must give consideration to worker's interest, owner's interest and above all nation's interest.

Export promotion Bureau said, " 2007-2008 financial year Bangladesh earned from this sector 516 crore 72 lakh dollar. Whereas 40% garments of the country already closed due to various problems. During first six months of this year 155 garments closed down showing an evil omen to our economic sector. Experts have already given their opinions that both local and overseas pinching and incitement cause anarchy in this sector. If it is the case, government intelligence must be employed here to find out the exact and right clues.

Disinterest to invest in this sector by Banks is going down the price of garments in the international market, failure to cope with neigbouring countries in exchanging currencies , gas and electricity shut down suddenly-are other problems in this sector. Garment owners are to depend on various ministries which prove difficult, they clamor for a new ministry. Of course, developing a new ministry does not necessarily mean the qualitative change. In this respect we can cite the example of Jute Ministry.

It failed to retain the glorious past of jute though the ministry was established with this objective.

Sramabikash Kendra, a platform of RMG workers formed a human chain in front of the High Court on September 24 demanding implementation of tripartite agreement among the government, RMG workers and garment owners signed in 2006. About 70% garments of a total of 4500 garments across the country pay Tk 1200 to the workers instead of 1662.50 which was fixed by the deal . If workers demand salary as per the deal owners of the factories threaten to lay off the factories. Worker leaders demanded steps by the government to sell the property of the factory owners who laid off their factories without paying workers dues. Worker leaders must be pragmatic and considerate enough . They must not incite the workers or guided by the worker leader like the former Soviet Union.the worker leaders of USSR contributed a great deal to close down many of her industries . National Alliance for Protection of Garment workers and Industries at Dhaka Reporters' Unity demanded seven points---payment of 50% dearness allowance until the minimum wage of RMG workers is fixed by the wage board, lifting all sorts of restrictions on trade union activities, arrest and punishment to the garment owners who violated the labour and Laws and payment of arrear bills of workers. Only receiving benefits through the exploitation of cheap labour is a crime. So, extending maximum and relevant opportunities to the workers is a must.

If possible there should be provision for contributory provident fund for the workers and gratuity. The already established garments industries may make it easily. If it is done, the workers will own their work otherwise they will work just for work. And in the sick ones

BGMEA may take the initiative to introduce such kind of facilities for the workers. Their contributory money could be employed in further developing and improving the industries. If the industry is sick and non-profitable and the workers continue to extract more facilities from the owners it will just invite closure of the industries and bring rainy days for the workers and their families. And it also happens that some owners try to bother about their interest only ignoring the facilities of the workers. In order to mediate these two parties there need to be the existence of Trade Union. If the trade union leaders remain busy with making their own fortune at the cost of worker's weakness and loss of the industry, it will bring another disaster and this thing happened where trade union developed. And that experience encourages the people concerned in this sector not establish trade union. But it is also not reasonable. In the absence of trade union or such kind of platform, an autocracy develops which is not desirable.Workers, owners, BGMEA and the government must get involved in resolving the ongoing crisis of RMG sector. Other business communities, economists, intellectuals and all concerned need to take interest and contribute in this sector at least with their good and pragmatic suggestions as it is the most vital fereign remittance earning source today.