Unrest in garment sector gives disconcerting signals, again

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Shahiduzzaman Khan
Fresh unrest is again simmering in the readymade garments (RMG) sector. Three precious lives were lost and over a hundred wounded in the recent deadly violence in Tongi. An apparently disturbed Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, categorically said that the government would not tolerate chaotic situation any more in the garment sector. The garment workers must get all types of facilities as they, with their low paid salaries, find it difficult to make both ends meet, she said.
According to reports, several thousand garment workers took to the streets in Tongi early this week and went on rampage after they had found their factory shut down, for what they alleged, without notice and without payment of their dues. The police opened fire on the rampaging crowd that left some people dead and injured. The owners of the garment units termed the incident as sabotage and
said a conspiracy was being hatched to destroy the garments industry of the country.
Is the recent unrest a part of the conspiracy? The parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Labour brushed aside such a notional view and pointed its finger at the owners of the garments factory in question where the violence had erupted. Violence on such a large scale could not have been erupted without involvement of the owners, the committee contended and asked the owners to compensate for the damage to the victims.
The workers of the said garment factory, as the reports in the media do suggest, were dissatisfied at the apparent breach of commitments by the owners. How could the management close the shutters before negotiating any deal with the workers? The workers reportedly claimed that they were poorly paid without having any fringe benefits. Added to this, they were not getting regular salaries for the last three months. They became violent after witnessing the factory under lock and key. Labour law says an owner can lay off his industry by giving one month's notice to the workers, after paying their all outstanding dues and benefits. In case of Nippon Garment at Tonga where the violence had erupted, the owners reportedly did not follow such rules.
On low wages of the garment workers, the Prime Minister spoke candidly of a stark disparity the other day. In many cases, she said, the money spent on day's shopping by an owner was more than the monthly salary of a garment worker. By oppressing the workers and depriving them of due benefits, no industry can enjoy sustained growth. Garment owners must keep this mind, she added. Such a reminder points to the widespread disparity between the two segments of people in the society. If the trend continues, the violence in the garment sector is likely to recur, even more so when the grievances are expressed through spontaneous outburst of the workers.
That the garment workers are the least rewarded section of the society, has now come to the fore. They are sending a message to the owners and country's political leaders that the industry cannot keep on neglecting them. More than 2.0 million people, the majority of whom are women, are now directly or indirectly dependent on the garment factories numbering 4000 throughout the country. The workers are getting on an average a paltry 60 US cents per day. Whereas many factory owners have prospered themselves, the workers have to work more than 8.0 hours a day and are not properly paid for the overtime they work. Very often the workers are sacked without reasonable ground. They sometimes demonstrate for an adjustment to their minimum wage, safe working conditions, weekly holiday and an end to their harassment. Such demonstrations become violent when deprivation crosses its limit.
The garment owners have some valid reasons to worry about. The global economic recession has hurt the country's apparel sector. Orders from the US and Europe have slowed down. But prices have fallen more markedly. Profit margin from RMG exports have considerably reduced due to stiff competition from other exporting nations. The unrest in the sector is leading to the cancellation of many orders.
RMG owners alleged that the attacks on the factories were a part of the 'conspiracy' to destroy the sector. Such an allegation cannot be ignored, regardless whether the conspiracy was internal or external. The government here cannot shrug off its responsibility. It must uncover the actual reasons behind the recent and previous unrest in the sector. If there is any conspiracy of foreign 'origin', the government should go all-out to find out its roots. The owners should pursue the matter with the government in finding international links, if any, to such conspiracy.
The government has, of late, hinted at allowing trade unions (TUs) function in the garment sector. This is otherwise a welcome move. But in the name of trade union, workers should not create unwarranted disturbances in the industrial belt. This will bring no good for them and for the country as well. The workers must use trade union as a true and effective bargaining platform. The country has witnessed 'demise' of many fledgling state-owned enterprises due to 'excessive' trade union activities. Many trade union leaders, in collaboration with a section of greedy officials, plundered assets of those state entities. This is a grim reminder how trade unionism could lead to negative growth. It is expected that the RMG workers, through productive trade union activities, will realise their legitimate rights without hampering production. Here creation of new job opportunities and not protection of the privileges of only those who are now employed should receive the priority consideration of all concerned.
The nation cannot afford the most vital sector of the industry to be frequently plagued by violence and disruptions. The atmosphere of seemingly never-ending volatility must give way to an amicable atmosphere that will be durable. And the causes of the violence must be removed once for all.
szkhan@thefinancialexpress-bd.com