Over a thousand of incidents like work abstention, road blockade, attacks and vandalism have roiled Bangladesh's potential readymade garment industry since August uprising to December last year, according to a report.
The report has recorded some 1108 such incidents during the period across major industrial belts while a total of 158 labour unrest reported in November with the highest 98 incidents in Tongi- Gazipur belt followed by 33 in Ashulia and Savar and 20 in Dhaka metropolitan city over issues of due wage payments, among others.
It is also noted that a total of 142 readymade garment (RMG) factories were shut until December 26, last year, out of which some 67 factories were closed permanently while the rest 77 closed temporarily.
Permanently closed units are located in Ashulia, Gazipur and Narayanganj industrial belts while the temporary closures took place in factories located in Chattogram and Mymensingh areas, according findings of the report.
The report has cited labour unrest because of shortage of raw materials, termination of workers and irregular wage payments and a short of work orders as major reasons for factory closure.
Another 93 non-RMG factories were also closed during the period-46 permanently and rest 47 temporarily.
The report also attached a list of 35 individuals, mostly labour leaders, some were employed in garment factories while the rest had political affiliation, who allegedly instigated the labour unrest and recommended the government to enhance its vigilance on those labour leaders and bring the identified ones to book fast .
Another list of labour organizations has also included in the 'special report on labour unrest in garment sector' by home ministry which was also sent to industries, labour and commerce ministries' top officials on January 05.
The report that cited Industrial Police data showed some 74 garment factories failed to pay wages for the month of October in November while it apprehended that a total of 77 apparel units might not be able to pay December wages in the current month of January. "As a result, labour unrest might take place in those units," reads the report.
According to it, some 31,000 garment workers lost jobs due to closure of 16 garment factories under Beximco Group and suggested labour migration abroad as alternative to avert any untoward incident.
"Otherwise, those jobless workers might be engaged in criminal activities," it apprehends.
To avert any untoward incident in the country's largest foreign-currency- earning sector that fetched US$36.13 billion in the last fiscal year, the report has made a number of other recommendations that include measures to pay workers who are yet to get their monthly wages through discussion with respective factory authorities and workers and stop worker termination violating labour law.
"A fixed date should be announced in a planned manner for dues and wage payments in factories that yet to pay workers," according to the report's recommendations.
It also suggests exploring any political intention by the factories that failed in making timely wage payment and identifying any foreign engagement with rights organizations in creating labour unrest and increase vigilance accordingly.
A total of 31 cases had been filed since August 01 to December 27 over labour unrest and 171 were arrested while 41 are on bail, it said, adding two instigators out of listed 35 have been found while on another 92 workers there no regular vigilance.
Other suggestions include active role by law- enforcing agencies in addressing unrest centering around jhut/ garment waste trade and measures so that all workers get TCB cards to buy essentials at a fair price.
When asked, commerce ministry acting secretary Md Abdur Rahim Khan said, "We have received the report and working on it."
He said they would sit with relevant stakeholders shortly regarding the issue. He, however, would not go through further details.
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