Happy workers help earn more profits to RMG factory owners

Mohammad Mufazzal Some factory owners have set good examples in the country's readymade garment (RMG) sector by providing higher wages, bonus, maternity leave, free lunch and medical treatment amid inhuman practices of deprivations elsewhere. They said their profits have not declined. Rather it increased as the workers employed their best to help the owners achieve the targets in terms of quality and quantity. Some factory owners told this to the FE while talking about the necessity of addressing the problems of the workers. They said the workers' basic problems can be solved by paying their minimum humane attention for the sake of their business, image and the country's economy as well. "In our industry there is no system of addressing the workers' basic problems, including their cost of living and giving adequate time in inquiring about their heath conditions," said Asif Moyeen, managing director of Far East Knitting and Dyeing Industries. He said in case of a minor problem in the machinery, the company owners instantly take initiatives so that their production is not hampered at all. "But they remain careless in ensuring the due benefits of their workers with a view to achieving targets through cost cutting at the cost of workers' reasonable benefits. But I think a worker will not be able to give his/her full capacity unless factory owners provide their minimum basic needs," Mr. Moyeen said. According to Mr. Moyeen, his workers are getting three bonuses in terms of regular presence, fulfillment of targets and their conduct during a month. He has set up workers' welfare fund and arranged free medical treatment and lunch. "The female workers are being provided toilet napkins. They also enjoy maternity leave. My company never fails to achieve its targets. These facilities have led to rise in my profits," Mr. Moyeen added. He said other company owners should meet the workers' basic needs for the sake of their own business, the country's image and the economy. M. M. Akash, an economist and a professor of the Dhaka University, said the factories which produce brand products are comparatively compliant. "It will be tough for the factories refusing to ensure workers' benefits to sustain as the workers are being informed about their minimum wages and other benefits elsewhere," Mr. Akash told the FE. He said Bangladesh has no reason to lose the market of RMG due to lower-end production and cheaper cost of production. "A hue and cry was raised several times that Bangladesh would be losing the RMG market. But instead the market has widened over the years. That's why RMG owners should fulfill the workers' demands," Mr. Akash said. Some of the labour groups have also admitted that some factory owners have the mentality of depriving their workers. "It will not be fair if I say that all owners are cruel. There are some who at least try to value the workers' labour amid the majority who have the mentality of making profits only," said Bahriane Sultan, president of Jubo Bangladesh Garment Workers Federation. Adnan Nafis, the head of trade promotion and social responsibility of Bangladesh-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BGCCI) said, many of their members, socially compliant, ensure the due benefits to their workers. Among the members of the BGCCI, ACS Textiles (BD), Zaber and Zubair Fabrics, Hamza Textiles, Envoy Textiles, Viyelltex, Aboni knitwear, Fakir Apparels, FKGL and Jinnat Knitwear received Social and Environmental Excellence Award 2012 for ensuring social and environmental commitment through new technologies and innovative projects introduced in their factories. The owners of these companies have claimed that their workers receive various benefits including medical care, free lunch, festival gifts along with wages fixed above the minimum ceiling. Iqbal Habib, an architect and the member secretary of Urbanisation and governance of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), who was in the jury board of the award ceremony of Social Environmental Excellence Award 2012, said he refused to join the award ceremony following tragedy at the Tazreen Fashions, a member of the BGCCI. "The companies, however, received the awards for ensuring good working environment in their factories," Mr. Habib told the FE. He said the worst thing is that the BGMEA itself tries to save their members responsible for garment tragedies causing loss of valuable lives of workers. "The BGMEA should prepare the list of companies that ensure workers' safety and their due benefits," Mr. Habib felt. When asked, Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed said a social compliance forum is working to make the factories compliant for the sake of workers' benefits.