RMG owners assure workers

FE Report The garment manufacturers have assured the workers again that their monthly wages, festival allowances and other financial benefits will be cleared before the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha to ensure smooth celebration of the festival. They also sought all-out cooperation from the apparel union leaders and law enforcement agencies relating to the matter and requested the workers' representatives to come up with concerns to the manufacturers before stepping into any tough movement over the issue. The readymade garment (RMG) makers made the assurance at a view-exchange meeting with the union leaders, owners and law-enforcement agencies at the headquarters of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Sunday. The union leaders participating in the function said the country's highest foreign currency earning sector might face violence unless all types of payments are made before the second biggest festival of Muslims. They also requested the garment producers and law enforcers to give their special attention to the factories which often violate labour rights. "We're hopeful that we would be able to celebrate the Eid without any trouble as we did on the previous occasions," President of National Garment Workers Federation Amirul Haq Amin said adding that it would be better if such payments are made by November 4 - three days ahead of the festival. Nazma Akhter, President of Sammilito Garment Sramik Federation, said the owners should introduce a common bonus structure for all factories so that no violence can erupt over different bonus structures in different units. "Some factories pay extra amount of money in the name of bonus that creates confusion among workers in other factories in the same locality. It should be a uniform one," she said. Sirajul Islam Rony, President of Bangladesh Garment Workers' League, said the garment owners should make a positive response to the issue as they did during Eid-ul-Fitr. Director General of Industrial Police Abdus Salam said the force will help both the owners and workers to maintain a pro-industry atmosphere in the country's 5,000 plus garment units. "Workers should come to us with their problems as the special force cannot be used as a tool of repressing the workers," he said. He also warned of taking stern action against the community who want to create anarchy in the sector. President of the country's apex apparel body - BGMEA - Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin said all the manufacturers have been instructed to clear wages, bonus and other financial benefits of workers before the Eid. He said the financial condition in the USA and European nations is not so good which is seriously affecting the sector that witnessed a drastic fall in work orders. "So, the workers should realise the global situation as the industry develops on the mutual relationship of the workers and the owners." State Minister for Labour and Employment Monnujan Sufian said the owners will have to clear such payments as the government will provide all kinds of cooperation to the manufacturers in this connection. "No one can create violence for their own interest in the industry because this is a pro-industry government," she said adding that many risk factors can be eliminated from the industry through discussion and negotiation. Among others, Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour Israfil Alam and Joint Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ibrahim Fatemi also spoke at the meeting.