Security for the RMG industry
Saturday, 25 July 2009
M. Farhad Masum
Readymade garments (RMG) sector is a vital industrial sector in our country that contributes to the growth of our national economy. This sector started flourishing after the 1990s when political government came to power taking the responsibility in a democratic way. This is our largest export sector earning the lion's part of foreign exchange. It demands utmost attention for ensuring its stability.
From the beginning of this industry, mostly the woman workers are working in this sector. Thus, they have been contributing a lot to our economy by sacrificing all happiness. A few people are known about the miseries of the woman worker. These women workers live in dirty and unhealthy shanties of Dhaka city. They live in a small room with all of their family members. When rainy season comes, then their sorrows know no bound. Moreover, they cannot afford to send their children to schools for their poor salary.
But the industry owners are not ready to increase the salary of their employees and frequently say that increasing the income of the workers under the given circumstances is difficult for them because of stiff competition in the international market. Moreover, the RMG owners do not want to train their workforce that is considered a vital part for developing the efficiency of the workers and also for maintaining competitive advantage. Even proper behaviour is often not shown to the workers. Thus sometimes a trivial incident ends in a destructive situation. In addition, the owners sometimes use the illegal way to solve the problem. Now it is a billion dollar question that how we will solve the problem. We just think that salary is one and only part of the extra cost. Actually, ecaonomies of scale and adaptation of the modern technology in a workforce should not be a neglected issue.
In most of the incidents, vandalism happens due to the workers' unrest. The angry workers join together, include the members of the staff with them, and destroy their industry within a few minutes. Assets turn into ashes and we can't do anything but watch. These regular episodes are the hard realities. If a company falls into such occurrence, then it becomes very rigid to regain its earlier position except having only some big factories in long run.
Now it is the time of global recession. Bangladeshi workers are losing their jobs in foreign countries and returning home with an empty hand. Orders for supplying of the products have reduced compared to those of last year.
To prevent this situation, security factor plays a vital role. Our experts, in collaboration with the garments leaders like the influential BGMEA and BKMEA, have demanded the formation of an industrial police for protect their business. The government has already taken a move for this. In a way, the industrial police force can apply the law properly with the help of modern equipment and technology. But the root of the crisis must be addressed.
One instance from our neighbouring country is that TATA Steel pays a smart amount for their workers and a proper working environment is maintained inside the factory in conformity with world standard.
Moreover, schooling for the children of the workers, medical treatment etc., are also available for them. If there is any possibility of any unexpected and unpleasant incident taking place, then immediate actions are taken to solve it through both sides sitting together. This can be a model for us for solving peacefully any problem.
Unity between the owners and the workers is the main strength for us and through this, we would have to move forward, with hand in hand.
(The writer can be reached at e-mail: mfarhadmasum@gmail.com)
Readymade garments (RMG) sector is a vital industrial sector in our country that contributes to the growth of our national economy. This sector started flourishing after the 1990s when political government came to power taking the responsibility in a democratic way. This is our largest export sector earning the lion's part of foreign exchange. It demands utmost attention for ensuring its stability.
From the beginning of this industry, mostly the woman workers are working in this sector. Thus, they have been contributing a lot to our economy by sacrificing all happiness. A few people are known about the miseries of the woman worker. These women workers live in dirty and unhealthy shanties of Dhaka city. They live in a small room with all of their family members. When rainy season comes, then their sorrows know no bound. Moreover, they cannot afford to send their children to schools for their poor salary.
But the industry owners are not ready to increase the salary of their employees and frequently say that increasing the income of the workers under the given circumstances is difficult for them because of stiff competition in the international market. Moreover, the RMG owners do not want to train their workforce that is considered a vital part for developing the efficiency of the workers and also for maintaining competitive advantage. Even proper behaviour is often not shown to the workers. Thus sometimes a trivial incident ends in a destructive situation. In addition, the owners sometimes use the illegal way to solve the problem. Now it is a billion dollar question that how we will solve the problem. We just think that salary is one and only part of the extra cost. Actually, ecaonomies of scale and adaptation of the modern technology in a workforce should not be a neglected issue.
In most of the incidents, vandalism happens due to the workers' unrest. The angry workers join together, include the members of the staff with them, and destroy their industry within a few minutes. Assets turn into ashes and we can't do anything but watch. These regular episodes are the hard realities. If a company falls into such occurrence, then it becomes very rigid to regain its earlier position except having only some big factories in long run.
Now it is the time of global recession. Bangladeshi workers are losing their jobs in foreign countries and returning home with an empty hand. Orders for supplying of the products have reduced compared to those of last year.
To prevent this situation, security factor plays a vital role. Our experts, in collaboration with the garments leaders like the influential BGMEA and BKMEA, have demanded the formation of an industrial police for protect their business. The government has already taken a move for this. In a way, the industrial police force can apply the law properly with the help of modern equipment and technology. But the root of the crisis must be addressed.
One instance from our neighbouring country is that TATA Steel pays a smart amount for their workers and a proper working environment is maintained inside the factory in conformity with world standard.
Moreover, schooling for the children of the workers, medical treatment etc., are also available for them. If there is any possibility of any unexpected and unpleasant incident taking place, then immediate actions are taken to solve it through both sides sitting together. This can be a model for us for solving peacefully any problem.
Unity between the owners and the workers is the main strength for us and through this, we would have to move forward, with hand in hand.
(The writer can be reached at e-mail: mfarhadmasum@gmail.com)