May Day\\\'s pledges

This year's May Day is once again going to be observed under the lengthening grim shadow of the Rana Plaza tragedy, no matter if it is one year on since the one of the worst industrial catastrophes in past two centuries or more. Reactions to the news that the parties have failed to live up to their commitment to contribute to a fund to be pooled either for rehabilitation of the victims and for improvement of safety standard and overall factory conditions have been sharp and bitter. That a few internationally reputed retailers have tried to back out is most depressing. Yet not everything is lost. Some of the foreign buyers have stuck to their guns and are determined to help garments factories in Bangladesh to push through the intended reforms. Some discernible progress has already been made and more will hopefully follow in the days ahead.

As a late starter, Bangladesh nearly finds itself at a stage when industrial disasters took America and European countries by surprise in the 19th century. Working environment was even worse then and this is what exactly prompted a labour uprising at a factory producing farm equipment at Haymarket, Chicago in the United States of America (USA). Although May Day is observed worldwide in commemoration of the martyrdom of workers at Haymarket, in the USA that epoch-making event is mostly allowed to go listlessly. By laying down their lives workers there could draw the notice of all concerned that the men who ran the machine certainly were maltreated and they deserved better. Recognition such as this was highly significant because without this, workers were just the other name of slaves. The realisation now dawned that men were born free but they were chained courtesy of the hostile relations between workers and factory or industry owners. The revolt at the Haymarket marked the first triumph of the working class in that eight hours were agreed to be the standard working time for factory work. Gradually other benefits followed until the world has come to approve that a worker has the right to enjoy facilities like any other employee.

Unfortunately, workers not just in garments factories but also in a host of other productive units both in formal and informal sectors, but mostly in the latter, have been passing through an uncertain, harsh, hostile and chaotic time. If there was a decisive measure to eliminate child labour in the garments factories, in other areas this inhuman practice continues unabated. Children not only work long hours for a pittance but also do so under hazardous conditions in certain cases. Women and girls too are exploited in the labour market. Sure enough, against this kind of abuse of labour, there are workers who work under near ideal conditions and enjoy benefits commensurate to their productivity. But those cases are rare indeed. Even workers of the garments factories are yet to have the right to trade unionism - one that is recognised as a fundamental right the world over. The May Day's message ought to have touched every worker's life anywhere on the planet in a positive way but industrial relations are yet to be liberal enough. Ritual observance of the day does not mean much, what counts is the creation of conditions for an exploitation-free society.