Trade union panacea to solve RMG wage crisis: NGWF
Friday, 18 June 2010
Fazlur Rahman
RMG workers' leaders Wednesday said trade union could be the best answer to solve the problems regarding workers' demand for minimum pay.
"Had unions existed in the country's garment sector, there would not have any problems over pay. The owners' decision to shut down their factories and vandalism by the workers would not bring any solution," said Amirul Haque Amin, president of National Garments Workers Federation (NGWF), a group of 34 labour organisations, at a press conference in the city.
His comments came after several garment units stopped production during last one week due to rising vandalism and in fear of a large-scale agitation, which could cost the owners billions of taka.
Thousands of garment workers have jolted Ashulia industrial hub demanding wage hike that hampered production of a number of big apparel units, forcing many owners to go for unilateral shut-down to save their factories.
Amin said the demand for salary hike is a logical demand, but the workers should not forget that they would get nothing if they damage the factories.
"I don't think that putting barricade on streets or setting the factories afire are effective solutions. Shutting down factories will not solve the problem either," he said.
The labour leader said the workers do not have any platform to raise their demands, as there is no union at the factories.
"On behalf of the workers, the unions could have bargained on different issues and demands with the factory management. Even the government could have stepped in, if the two parties failed to reach any consensus."
"But no such mechanism currently exists, forcing the workers to pursue their own way."
Amin also ruled out the owners' claim that most of the garment factories are not ready now to implement the workers' demand of a minimum wage of Tk 5,000 from the existing Tk 1,632.
RMG workers' leaders Wednesday said trade union could be the best answer to solve the problems regarding workers' demand for minimum pay.
"Had unions existed in the country's garment sector, there would not have any problems over pay. The owners' decision to shut down their factories and vandalism by the workers would not bring any solution," said Amirul Haque Amin, president of National Garments Workers Federation (NGWF), a group of 34 labour organisations, at a press conference in the city.
His comments came after several garment units stopped production during last one week due to rising vandalism and in fear of a large-scale agitation, which could cost the owners billions of taka.
Thousands of garment workers have jolted Ashulia industrial hub demanding wage hike that hampered production of a number of big apparel units, forcing many owners to go for unilateral shut-down to save their factories.
Amin said the demand for salary hike is a logical demand, but the workers should not forget that they would get nothing if they damage the factories.
"I don't think that putting barricade on streets or setting the factories afire are effective solutions. Shutting down factories will not solve the problem either," he said.
The labour leader said the workers do not have any platform to raise their demands, as there is no union at the factories.
"On behalf of the workers, the unions could have bargained on different issues and demands with the factory management. Even the government could have stepped in, if the two parties failed to reach any consensus."
"But no such mechanism currently exists, forcing the workers to pursue their own way."
Amin also ruled out the owners' claim that most of the garment factories are not ready now to implement the workers' demand of a minimum wage of Tk 5,000 from the existing Tk 1,632.