Law enforcers step up security in garment units ahead of Eid

Jubair HasanThe law-enforcement agencies have kept their close eyes on the garment factories which are not members of the country's two apparel bodies - BGMEA and BKMEA - amid concerns from manufacturers and union leaders. Special attention of the law enforcers comes ahead of the coming Eid-ul-Azha to prevent any possible violence that often erupts in the garment units due to poor labour practices. "Yes, we've stepped up security in all the garment factories before the festival. Our intelligence officials are giving special attention to such factories to avert any sort of trouble," Director General (DG) of Industrial Police Abdus Salam said. The special move has been taken considering previous track records of violence in readymade garment (RMG) sector as it was found that labour unrest in most cases occurred in those units, he said. Joint Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Ibrahim Fatemi said they have instructed all the police officers concerned to strengthen security arrangement around the city's garment factories to stem troublemakers. Union leaders said the non-member garment factories should immediately be brought under close monitoring system as they do not follow the authorities' order to clear the payments of wages, bonuses and other financial benefits in time. "Poor labour practices in the small-sized factories forced its workers to go for tough programme to realise their legal demands like payment of monthly wages and bonuses," President of National Garment Workers' Federation Amirul Haq Amin said. "Many of the risky factors of the industry can be eliminated by bringing them under a close watch," he added. Garment manufacturers have long been demanding special measures against such factories so that owners of the units can follow the instructions directed by government and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers' and Ex­porters' Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers' and Exporters' Association (BKMEA). "We can't force them to obey the order over clearing such payments as they are not our members. But we've to bear the brunt of violence that occurs at the factories as the unrest spreads to other units," BGMEA second vice president Siddiqur Rahman said. Mr Rahman, also chairman of one of the country's leading apparel groups - Sterling Group, said the government should take the matter very seriously to bring stability in the sector.