Major reasons behind labour unrest at Ashulia

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Monira Munni Demand for wage-hike and a feeling of uncertainty over its timely implementation, coupled with workplace safety, are the major reasons behind the recent workers' unrest at Ashulia after the deadly Savar disaster, labour activits claimed. Garment workers and labour activists have suggested for making the award of a new wage board effective from May 1 last, following the government's decision about its (board's) formation, in order to help avert any further unrest in the country's over $20 billion garment industry. The ready-made garment (RMG) manufacturers are opposed to the demand for implementing the new wage-hike from May 1, although they said they were in favour of the wage-increase. Many of them consider that they need at least there months' time from the date of award of the new wages to put it into effect as exporters need to enter negotiations with buyers over the new product prices in order to pay the workers more. Labour activists also demanded 50 per cent dearness allowance (DA) for the interim period until the new structure of the wages was decided upon, after the formation of the wage board. Earlier, the government on May 12 declared to form a new wage board to raise the compensation package (basic wages, allowances plus other fringe benefits) for the garment workers to avert unrest after the Savar tragedy. It said the new compensation package would be effective from May 1, no matter when it was announced. The demands of the workers in the RMG units (producing both woven and knitted apparel items) were made at a meeting between a number of labour rights' organisations and the government held at the conference room of the ministry of labour at the Secretariat last Thursday. Labour Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and Employment Ishrafil Alam, and Shirin Akther, founding-president of Karmojibi Nari, among other labour activists, were present at the meeting. The government sat with the labour activists just after the tripartite meeting between the government, the garment owners and the laobur rights' groups to find out the main reasons behind the festering unrest in Ashulia garments zone and to evolve a way out. During the tripartite meeting, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) had announced that all closed factories at Ashulia would reopen from Friday which had been shut down from May 14 mainly due to unrest. The work resumed from last Friday at RMG factories accordingly. "Reopening of garment factories at Ashulia is not the permanent solution to the ongoing crisis," Mahmudur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Textile Garment Sramik Federation, told the FE. The situation might be calmed down for a short period, he added, expressing his fear that there could be further unrest if there was no clear declaration on the pressing issues. He said the government should find out the real reasons for the unrest. As he viewed it, the main reasons behind the unrest were the demand for wage-hike and the mistrust between the workers and the owners. Echoing Mr Rahman, Shamima Nasrin, president of Swadhin Bangla Garment Sramik Karmacari Federation said, "A 50 per cent DA should be given to the garment workers until the new wage board was formed and the new wages are declared after the formation of the wage board and before the finalisation of its recommendations." The RMG unit owners were responsible for the latest shutdown of factories as they took the decision without prior discussion with the government and the workers, she added. Nazma Akhter, another laobur leader, said workers earn wages through labour and they should be well paid so that they could lead a decent life, not a luxurious one. Shirin Akhter said, "We sat at the meeting to understand and analyse the present situation aiming to save the industry and bring back the trust of the owners and the workers in each other. "The government and the garment unit owners need to look into the workers' demands and rights to avert unrest at Ashulia," she said adding the workers should be assured of their rights and given due respect. The labour leaders also demanded allowing trade unions at garment factories in phases and ensuring workplace safety with prior identification of risky factory buildings. The meeting sources said the ministers had assured the labour leaders that they would sit again after discussing the issues with the garment manufacturers and the government's authorities concerned. Without commenting on the demands for implementation of new wages from May 01 and the DA, Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of Exporters Association of Bangladesh, said the manufacturers needed at least three months' time to negotiate on the enhanced prices for their products with the buyers in order to foot the additional bill on account of increased wages and other fringe benefits for the workers.