Vandalism afresh grip RMG industries
Thursday, 14 May 2009
IT is deeply regrettable that the export-oriented readymade garments (RMG) industries, which earns 76 per cent of the country's foreign currencies and employs some 3.5 million workers, should continue to be threatened on a large scale by the reappearance of vandalism. In the past there were serious eruptions of sometimes engineered violence. Thus, a dozen RMG factories were attacked on Monday in the Narayanganj area mainly by the workers of one RMG factory to press their demand for a pay hike. The notable aspect was that the violence-makers of this particular factory ransacked twelve other factories which were not involved in any way with their demands. The workers of these other factories were urged and forced to join in the pillaging. When they refused, the two groups had fights between themselves that only worsened the violence. In another incident on the same day, workers of one RMG factory blockaded the Dhaka-Aricha highway at Savar to vent their grievances for non-payment of arrear salary. But it was not limited to a blockade as 30 vehicles on the highway which had no relation with their demands were smashed in varying degrees.
Vandalism of a serious nature engulfed the RMG sector from the later part of 2006 and extended well into the next year. Such incidents threatened the sector even under the caretaker administration. Meanwhile, the owners of the RMG industries have done a great deal within the last two years to meet the various demands of the workers including that of higher wages. But Monday's incidents only highlight the point that dependable peace is yet to bless this all too important sector. Many RMG factories at Narayanganj, Ashulia and Savar have closed down operations apprehending fresh outbreak of troubles for no reasons on their part.
Leaders of the RMG industry in the last two years many times drew the attention to their own investigations revealing that the violence in many cases were premeditated and instigated by vested interest groups that do not want the garments sector in Bangladesh to flourish. Investigations by different security agencies of the government also reached the same conclusion and even identified the sponsors of the violence. But for reasons unknown, hard actions were not taken against them. Thus the potential for trouble in the RMG sector remains largely undiminished.
Added to the masked perpetrators of violence, the RMG sector is also suffering from heavy extortionist demands. The threat is extensive, as extortionists have been reportedly demanding and collecting money regularly from the RMG industries in the past few months. The father-in-law of one RMG industry owner was gunned down on Tuesday for failing to pay up as demanded. The target of the assailants was the owner who had earlier reported to the police and RAB about the demands on him. But the two forces hardly paid any attention. Media reports say that extortionists' demands are not sparing anybody in the RMG industries and in each case the demand is at least four or five million taka. The operators of the industry have told the press that if the extortionist activities are not effectively prevented, then many of them will have to face the crucial decision of closing down their enterprises sooner or later.
Entrepreneurs in the RMG sector had proposed the formation of an industrial police force to specifically cater to the security requirements of their own as well as other industries. The industrial police are expected to keep close vigil over the industries and take proactive measures to counteract all sorts of threats to them including extortion. It is imperative that an industrial police force be considered and implemented at the fastest.
Vandalism of a serious nature engulfed the RMG sector from the later part of 2006 and extended well into the next year. Such incidents threatened the sector even under the caretaker administration. Meanwhile, the owners of the RMG industries have done a great deal within the last two years to meet the various demands of the workers including that of higher wages. But Monday's incidents only highlight the point that dependable peace is yet to bless this all too important sector. Many RMG factories at Narayanganj, Ashulia and Savar have closed down operations apprehending fresh outbreak of troubles for no reasons on their part.
Leaders of the RMG industry in the last two years many times drew the attention to their own investigations revealing that the violence in many cases were premeditated and instigated by vested interest groups that do not want the garments sector in Bangladesh to flourish. Investigations by different security agencies of the government also reached the same conclusion and even identified the sponsors of the violence. But for reasons unknown, hard actions were not taken against them. Thus the potential for trouble in the RMG sector remains largely undiminished.
Added to the masked perpetrators of violence, the RMG sector is also suffering from heavy extortionist demands. The threat is extensive, as extortionists have been reportedly demanding and collecting money regularly from the RMG industries in the past few months. The father-in-law of one RMG industry owner was gunned down on Tuesday for failing to pay up as demanded. The target of the assailants was the owner who had earlier reported to the police and RAB about the demands on him. But the two forces hardly paid any attention. Media reports say that extortionists' demands are not sparing anybody in the RMG industries and in each case the demand is at least four or five million taka. The operators of the industry have told the press that if the extortionist activities are not effectively prevented, then many of them will have to face the crucial decision of closing down their enterprises sooner or later.
Entrepreneurs in the RMG sector had proposed the formation of an industrial police force to specifically cater to the security requirements of their own as well as other industries. The industrial police are expected to keep close vigil over the industries and take proactive measures to counteract all sorts of threats to them including extortion. It is imperative that an industrial police force be considered and implemented at the fastest.