Relaxation of ban on TU activities

The caretaker government last Sunday partially relaxed ban that it imposed on trade union activities under Emergency Powers Rules after taking over the rein of the country's administration in January last year. Following the relaxation of the curbs, labour groups or trade unions bodies are now free to hold rallies indoor and elections for collective bargaining agents in factories, commercial organizations and ports. However, the attendance of more than 500 people in the indoor rallies will not be allowed and prior permission from police commissioners or district magistrates will be necessary in case of holding elections. brActually, relaxation of the ban on trade union activities was due some months back when the government allowed indoor politics. But the government, for reasons best known to it, decided to continue the curbs even under a relatively free political environment. But a suggestion from the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office to lift restrictions on trade union activities both inside and outside the export processing zones of the country without any further delay has prompted the government to change its stance. The USTR suggestion was accompanied by a veiled threat to review the duty- and quota-free facilities that Bangladesh products get while entering the US market under the generalized system of preference (GSP). One can guess well that the USTR action came under pressure from the influential US labour groups. brEvery conscious citizen does want restoration of his or her full democratic rights and also the rights of workers and professional groups. Preparations are now afoot to hold the next general elections with a view to restoring an unhindered democratic system. The relaxation of the ban on trade union activities, including holding of collective bargaining agent (CBA) elections, actually, goes well with the ongoing political developments. With a few exceptions, trade union activities in the country have been rather disciplined and violence-free in recent years. With the divestment of many state-owned entities, where trade union leaders used to call the shots, the violence-prone nature of the trade unions has largely been diminished. But the Chittagong port and the export-oriented garment sector, two important elements of the country's external trade, continue to be major trouble spots as far as labour situation is concerned. brThe state of affairs with the Chittagong port before the 111 changeover is known to everybody. The operation of the port, considered the lifeline of the economy, used to depend on the whims of a few labour leaders having political links. The businesses until recently suffered a lot, in terms of both time and money, because of the unruly nature of the trade unions at the Chittagong port. No businessman would like to return to the situation that prevailed before the proclamation of emergency rule. The situation in the RMG sector is, however, different from that of the port. Since there is no organized trade union activity in the sector, it is hard to blame labour leaders for all the ills. Since the causes of workers' unrest in the RMG sector are very much known to all the stakeholders, the owners of garment units and the government should address those as early as possible. Trade unions are for protecting the interests of the workers. So, nobody should have any objection to trade unions or CBAs trying to get the just demands of the workers realised. But, at the same time, people would always expect responsible, not unruly, behaviour from the trade union bodies.