RMG workers go berserk

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It is a bad news that thousands of garment workers went berserk over wage-related disputes with factory owners. They attacked factories and broke machinery, damaged scores of vehicles and put barricades on the highway. In the melee, 50 people including five policemen were injured. The incident was reported on May 11. Similar acts of violence have also been reported from several other garment factories.
We observed the May Day, the other day. But the reality is that here workers are being harassed and deprived of their rights everywhere. Only this day we think of their rights. After that we forget everything.
Such incidents of violence are unwelcome. The RMG sector is passing through a tough time due to global recession. The demand for readymade garments in the international market has decreased due to the crisis. The garment manufactures are receiving less important orders and reduced price offers from foreign buyers.
They are also struggling with their rivals like India, China and Vietnam. Unfortunately, this sector has no place in the stimulus package announced by the government.
This sector is one of the main foreign exchange earners of the country. So, it is time to tame the workers by way of paying them their real wages and restoring all their rights.

Mahfuzur Rahman Manik
IER, Dhaka University