Restore order in garment units
The New Nation, Bangladesh
OUT of several hundred odd garment factories in Mirpur area at least one hundred remained virtually closed for three days in the current week due to demonstration by workers of garment factories and clashes between agitating workers and the police. Thousands of workers, including women, came out of their workplaces and participated in demonstrations at different locations. They have not only stopped production in factories but also disrupted the movement of people and vehicles on major roads.
The cause behind the move of the workers was related to timely payment of wages. Workers demanded the payment of wages, as per the National Wage Commission recommendations and also benefits including medicare, overtime pay plus weekend and national holidays. The owners of many garment factories are baffled because they regularly pay wages and are yet affected by the action. As reported, garment workers in the Mirpur area, were angry for the arrest of a leader of their union by law-enforcing agencies. Some quarters even spread rumour that the arrested worker might have been killed. Thus, workers came out of their factories. When the law enforcing agencies intervened workers pelted brick-bats and clashes ensued. Some city roads turned unsafe for movement of vehicles and passengers.
The authorities have reportedly asserted that the masterminds behind these agitations have been identified. They might have entered the scene for disrupting the production of finished garment. The agitation in Mirpur area was followed by workers unrest in factories in the Savar Export Processing Zone in Savar. Similar agitation in the past caused loss of production and affected the export of finished garment. The sooner such masterminds are brought to justice, the safer may be the garment sector of the economy. The realities in the industrial sector are quite diverse. Major jute mills have been closed down with loss of jobs of thousands of workers. Export earnings from jute products have fallen. If earnings from the garment sector show any down trend then the payment of import bills may turn quite difficult. That being so, the prevailing problems in the garment sector should be resolved with firm decisions taken by the government agencies, the employers and the workforce without loss of any more time.
