The startling export growth of the country's ready-made garment (RMG) may face hurdles if trade unionism is encouraged in the sector, entrepreneurs said. They suggested formation of welfare committees instead of trade unions to help ensure the rights of the owners as well as the workers. Meanwhile, both the woven and knitwear exports have surpassed their previous records. The export target of woven items during 2010-11 fiscal is set at US $ 6,614.77 million. And this target has already been surpassed with exports worth $ 6,698.52 million during nine months of the current fiscal. The knitwear sector has also exceeded last year's target of $ 650 million during nine months of the current fiscal year, according to the exporters. The entrepreneurs expressed their concern as the government is working to update the Labour Law-2006 that may allow trade unionism in the sector. "About 70 per cent of 200 garment factories have been closed down due to the trade unionism issue. The rest of the factories are now on the verge of closure," Acting President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Siddiqur Rahman told the FE. He said that vested quarters from outside had provoked the workers into forming trade unions in the sector with an excuse to secure their (workers') rights. "Trade unionism introduced in other sectors has failed to bring any benefits to the employees. It has simply preserved the interests of the vested quarters," he said adding, "If trade unionism is introduced in the RMG sector, then it will only bring chaos and destruction. The rights of the workers can easily be protected through welfare committees," he said. He said there are about 5,140 garment factories in the country. Till date the sector has employed about 3.5 million (35 lakh) people. Of them 85 per cent are women. "We are very much aware of our workers' interests. It is our duty to look into their (workers') welfare. If they (workers) are well, then it will be possible to keep the pace of production that will ultimately bring benefits to the sector. And it can only be possible without trade unionism in the garment sector," he said. He said to propel the growth in the sector the supplies of the vital utility services must remain uninterrupted. "We need uninterrupted supplies of power and gas, development of roads and highways for smooth transport and timely shipment of garment items for export," he said adding, "The labour unrest should be stopped, otherwise the sector might not be able to overcome stiff competition from the rival countries". Former president of the BGMEA Anwar Ul Alam Chowdhury has also expressed his reservation about trade unionism in the sector. He stated that those who demand it (trade unionism) are not real workers. "The exports of garment products have increased by 41 per cent in recent years. Trade unionism must not be allowed if we want to retain the growth for the next 15 to 20 years," he said. "I don't favour trade unionism in the sector. We need more time to adapt and get accustomed to trade unionism in the sector. During the interim period, there may be a welfare committee that will guarantee the rights of the owners and the workers," he added. Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has also expressed its opposition to the formation of trade union in the sector. "We have bitter experience of trade unionism in other sectors that brought nothing but destruction. So, we don't prefer getting that type of trade unionism. We want a different type of trade unionism with separate rules and monitoring system that will protect the interest of the owners and the workers," an influential leader of BKMEA told the FE, preferring anonymity.
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