Pay workers their due wages: PM
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
FE Report
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Monday no industry can sustain by exploiting workers or depriving them of due wages calling upon garment owners to pay properly to improve the livelihood of their employees.
"Labourers are the driving force of your industry. You should pay them properly as they have been working hard for the industry (garment)," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said: "Monthly wages of a worker is equivalent to your one day's kitchen market expenditure."
Inaugurating the 5th Bangladesh Knitwear Exhibition 2009, she pointed out that with the present low-scale wages garment workers find it very difficult to meet their needs.
The prime minister's comment came barely three days after violent clashes at a Tongi garment factory, which was shut down abruptly, left three people dead and over a hundred injured.
"The workers might have been used by evil quarters to destroy factories. If our workers get due wages, they will not be used by anyone," she said.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) is organising the annual event styled knit exposition 2009 from November 2 to November 4 at hotel Sheraton in the city.
The prime minister urged the garment owners to build dormitories for the workers taking financial assistances from the government.
"We've a housing fund and we disburse it at 1.0 per cent service charge. You might avail of it for the construction of dormitories for the workers," she said.
She said garment workers are leading inhuman lives saying: "We'll make the fund disbursement procedures more easier if you want to utilise it for them,"
Referring to the recent clash at Tongi, the premier said the owners of garment factories have to find out the culprits behind the labour unrest.
She said: "We frequently hear about labour unrest at factories. You should find it out who are the masterminds behind such destruction."
"We're investigating it. You should also initiate your own investigation," she added.
She said: "Anarchism in the apparel sector will not be allowed."
Terming the masterminds behind the frequent chaotic situation in the garment sector as enemy of the economy, she urged all concerned to remain alert against the vicious circle.
She noted that her government is always active to uphold the rights of the workers and already has taken several important measures for their welfare.
About the BKMEA's proposal for allocation a piece of land for it in the city, she said the knitwear-sector association can turn its Narayanganj headquarters into a modern one.
She also said the government has decided to build Gazipur-Dhaka-Narayanganj elevated expressway and improve railways and waterways linking these areas saying: "This will make communication easy between Gazipur-Narayanganj."
The government has already announced stimulus package worth Tk 40 billion to offset the impact of global recession on export oriented industries, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has also reduced the interest rates of bank loans to between 12 per cent and 13 per cent. Steps have been taken to help revive the country's 270 sick industries, she added.
The premier urged the owners to explore new markets of RMG products in the rich countries of the Middle East and Africa.
"If you can do this, very soon Bangladesh will have the world's number one position in exporting garment products," Sheikh Hasina said.
She said: "We've asked our foreign missions to work for exploring apparel market and steps have already been taken for setting up new missions in places potential for our export market."
The prime minister said through proper management her government has succeeded in adding some 700MW electricity to the national grid since its assumption of office.
"We expect that an additional 700MW electricity will be added to the national grid by the end of this year," she added.
"We've plans to produce 4110MW by 2013. Of which, 2810 will come from public enterprises and the remaining 1350 MW from private sector," she went on.
She said the government has called tender for setting up eight rental power plants, which will generate 530MW electricity as well.
Hasina, however, advised the owners of garment factories to use solar-based power in their offices.
Finance Minister Abul Mal A Muhith, Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Musharraf Hossain and Commerce Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan also spoke as special guests at the function.
BKMEA president Md Fazlul Hoque gave the welcome address of the function attended by ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, State Minister, MPs, and local and foreign investors and chamber leaders.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Monday no industry can sustain by exploiting workers or depriving them of due wages calling upon garment owners to pay properly to improve the livelihood of their employees.
"Labourers are the driving force of your industry. You should pay them properly as they have been working hard for the industry (garment)," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said: "Monthly wages of a worker is equivalent to your one day's kitchen market expenditure."
Inaugurating the 5th Bangladesh Knitwear Exhibition 2009, she pointed out that with the present low-scale wages garment workers find it very difficult to meet their needs.
The prime minister's comment came barely three days after violent clashes at a Tongi garment factory, which was shut down abruptly, left three people dead and over a hundred injured.
"The workers might have been used by evil quarters to destroy factories. If our workers get due wages, they will not be used by anyone," she said.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) is organising the annual event styled knit exposition 2009 from November 2 to November 4 at hotel Sheraton in the city.
The prime minister urged the garment owners to build dormitories for the workers taking financial assistances from the government.
"We've a housing fund and we disburse it at 1.0 per cent service charge. You might avail of it for the construction of dormitories for the workers," she said.
She said garment workers are leading inhuman lives saying: "We'll make the fund disbursement procedures more easier if you want to utilise it for them,"
Referring to the recent clash at Tongi, the premier said the owners of garment factories have to find out the culprits behind the labour unrest.
She said: "We frequently hear about labour unrest at factories. You should find it out who are the masterminds behind such destruction."
"We're investigating it. You should also initiate your own investigation," she added.
She said: "Anarchism in the apparel sector will not be allowed."
Terming the masterminds behind the frequent chaotic situation in the garment sector as enemy of the economy, she urged all concerned to remain alert against the vicious circle.
She noted that her government is always active to uphold the rights of the workers and already has taken several important measures for their welfare.
About the BKMEA's proposal for allocation a piece of land for it in the city, she said the knitwear-sector association can turn its Narayanganj headquarters into a modern one.
She also said the government has decided to build Gazipur-Dhaka-Narayanganj elevated expressway and improve railways and waterways linking these areas saying: "This will make communication easy between Gazipur-Narayanganj."
The government has already announced stimulus package worth Tk 40 billion to offset the impact of global recession on export oriented industries, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has also reduced the interest rates of bank loans to between 12 per cent and 13 per cent. Steps have been taken to help revive the country's 270 sick industries, she added.
The premier urged the owners to explore new markets of RMG products in the rich countries of the Middle East and Africa.
"If you can do this, very soon Bangladesh will have the world's number one position in exporting garment products," Sheikh Hasina said.
She said: "We've asked our foreign missions to work for exploring apparel market and steps have already been taken for setting up new missions in places potential for our export market."
The prime minister said through proper management her government has succeeded in adding some 700MW electricity to the national grid since its assumption of office.
"We expect that an additional 700MW electricity will be added to the national grid by the end of this year," she added.
"We've plans to produce 4110MW by 2013. Of which, 2810 will come from public enterprises and the remaining 1350 MW from private sector," she went on.
She said the government has called tender for setting up eight rental power plants, which will generate 530MW electricity as well.
Hasina, however, advised the owners of garment factories to use solar-based power in their offices.
Finance Minister Abul Mal A Muhith, Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Musharraf Hossain and Commerce Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan also spoke as special guests at the function.
BKMEA president Md Fazlul Hoque gave the welcome address of the function attended by ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, State Minister, MPs, and local and foreign investors and chamber leaders.