Owners in new thinking about chaos in garments
October 3, 20244 Mins Read
Jumbangla Desk: Vandalism inside the factory, internal conflict of the workers, from pro-opposition harassment to the street movement thought that it would end by accepting their 18-point demand, but it did not end completely. By doing this, the owner is thinking anew. The situation is very murky for the labor unions. Concerns have arisen as to why the movement is not stopping even after accepting the 18 points. They say that even if the 18 points are accepted, the thought of whether it can be implemented has not gone away, but the thought of the loss that will have to be faced by the closure of the factory for a long time has also filled the mind. They also fear that if the situation is not controlled quickly, they will have to suffer in the future.
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Yesterday, workers protested the blockade of Nabinagar-Chandra highway in Ashulia of Savar, Dhaka for 52 hours. On Wednesday (October 2) at around 1 pm, the traffic started to return to normal when they moved on the assurance of the police. The workers of Birds Group blocked the important highway from 9:30 am on Monday to demand payment of outstanding dues. Abu Bakkar, OC of Ashulia police station, said that the workers were removed from the road after explaining and assuring the owners to face them.
Meanwhile, the owners were forced to close 10 new factories yesterday. Garment workers blocked the highway in Gazipur demanding reinstatement of sacked workers and recruitment of male workers. When they started protesting in Bhogra area of Dhaka-Mymensingh highway since morning, the traffic was stopped and passengers suffered. Authorities have announced closure of 10 nearby factories for today to avoid chaos.
For the last 15 days there has been agitation in the areas. Talking to factory workers in those areas, it is known that one of the many reasons for workers' anger is Section 13 (1) of the Labor Act, which states that, due to an illegal strike in any branch or department of an establishment, the owner may close down that branch or establishment partially or completely. may, and in case of such stoppage the workers participating in the strike shall not receive any wages. It has been reported that workers are facing this situation in many factories where salaries are arrears. Workers in relatively small factories are subjected to various discriminations and ordinary workers suffer due to this decision of the owners. Added to this is the conflict between male workers and female workers. In some factories, male workers feel that they are discriminated against. They demanded an end to the trend of hiring women for work by firing them on various pretexts.
Earlier, on September 14, at the BGMEA building in Uttara of the capital, in a discussion meeting on how to solve the current crisis in the garment industry, the garment owners warned of closing the factory if the chaos is not prevented. Talking to some of the owners of ready-made clothes, it is known that most of the owners are happy for the time being because of the opening of the factory, but new worries have arisen among many. They say, in reality, it will not be possible to increase wages in all factories and give increments at the rate of 10 percent at the end of the year. And if that is not possible, we do not know how the workers will be handled. Besides, many are still worried about the safety of the factory. It is also alleged that anarchy is being created inside the factory.
Asked why the situation could not be resolved so far, Dhaka Metropolitan President of Bangladesh Workers Party Abul Hossain said that the situation in all factories is not the same. Apart from a few large factories, numerous small factories will not be able to implement the 18 points. As a result, workers feel they will be subjected to greater discrimination.
He said that the arrears of salary should be paid, in other words, layoffs of workers should be stopped. From my experience I can say that now the workers are aware of their rights and the concern of the owners has increased. But the owner-labor relationship did not develop.
He also mentioned that the workers are being forced to take to the streets because the owners have misused undemocratic laws like Article 13(1) to close the factories fearing sabotage, sabotage and loss of market to the workers' movement.
BGMEA director Mohiuddin Rubel said that the owners can pay workers only if there is a business. If there is instability like this, business will decrease and the whole sector will remain unstable. Various other problems will arise.
When asked what kind of loss he is fearing, he said that the factory which is closed today will have cost loss for today. It is not yet known what the buyer will do to him since he is unable to produce. As a result, you have to face losses for many days. The financial loss will take a terrible shape, the image damage that will be lost, the recovery speed is the highest.
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The exact amount of financial loss to be faced cannot be said now, he said, but it can be said for sure that if the bank does not cooperate, the problem will become bigger.
Source: Bangla Tribune
