Govt assures RMG owners of actions to ensure security

Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan today (14 September) urged all readymade garment factory owners to keep their units open on Sunday, assuring them that special measures would be taken if any factory faces unrest.

If any quarter attempts to close factories to jeopardise the country's economy, it will face consequences, Adilur warned at a consultation on the ongoing crisis and resolution paths for Ashulia's garment factories held at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara.

Presiding over the meeting, BGMEA President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam said all garment factories will remain open on Sunday on security assurance of the government, but if any factory experiences unrest, its owner can close it according to Section 13/1 of the Labour Law (no work, no pay) if he or she chooses to.

Some other garment factory owners also said if they need to close a factory due to unrest, they will implement Section 13/1 of the labour law.

Adilur said the government has formed a committee to resolve the emerging issues in the readymade garment sector. The committee will work swiftly to resolve the problems through discussions with all parties involved. He emphasised the need to restore the culture of working together, which had deteriorated over time.

Government to provide maximum security to factories

Ha-meem Group Chairman AK Azad, who is also a former FBCCI president, said that the committee formed to monitor labour-related complaints has been given one month. During the period, he expressed a desire to hear from the advisers if the factories will remain operational or not. 

"If you assure us of security, we will keep the factories running. Otherwise, the factories will be declared closed indefinitely in accordance with labour laws," Azad said.

In response, the industries adviser said, "We will do our utmost to ensure security of the factories. We have been instructed to use all available resources. We also want to hear from the workers' representatives of Ashulia."

At this point, the factory owners started to protest loudly. Subsequently, labour leaders called on the workers to refrain from vandalising the factories and urged them to return to work starting Sunday.

In response, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said, "This cannot happen. This is not a solution." 

She further added, "The government will take action regarding any garment factories facing issues. If any group tries to harm the country's economy by closing factories, we will take note of that as well."

Labour Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan said, "Due to the establishment of a democratic environment in the country, workers, like many others, are now voicing their concerns. A labour-related committee has been formed to address their complaints, and it has already begun working on these issues. However, it cannot be said that there is no conspiracy involved in the workers' movement at all."

The labour adviser further mentioned that the government has already begun working on implementing a rationing system for workers.

Additionally, the process of withdrawing the cases filed during last year's wage increase movement has also started, he said. 

The government will ensure that all opportunities for forming trade unions, as permitted within the labour law, are upheld, Asif said.

"Those who create unrest outside of these processes will face strict action," he said, adding that no leniency will be shown in such cases.

Chaos at the meeting

After the owners' speeches, labour leaders gave their statements. Babul Akhter, general secretary of the Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, spoke first. 

Explaining the background of worker dissatisfaction, he said, "Mid-level management mistreats workers. Workers are deprived of their rightful dues in the BGMEA's arbitration process. Neither the government nor the owners have listened to the workers." 

He further said, "Whenever workers tried to voice their concerns, surveillance increased, and they were harassed by the police. There is no job security for workers, and the owners have created fake trade unions to deprive workers of their rightful dues. Under these changing circumstances, workers are expressing their frustrations."

In response to his remarks, the factory owners began to protest loudly. He then left the stage before finishing his speech. 

As the BGMEA president requested him to continue, Babul came back and said factory owners are attributing their failures to external provocations and the instigation of scrap dealers. "In reality, factory owners have blacklisted workers who made legitimate demands, and these workers are not being hired by other factories," he said.

Mantu Ghosh, president of the Garment Workers Trade Union Centre, said the fundamental causes of worker dissatisfaction must be identified. He suggested that there might be incentives from defeated political forces. He also called for an increase in wages.

Amirul Haque Amin, president of the National Garments Workers Federation, said several factories have blacklisted over 300 workers.

"Due to their fingerprints being blacklisted, these workers are unable to find employment elsewhere."

He called for the removal of these blacklists and demanded action against mid-level officials who "treat workers as if they were slaves."

36 factories remain closed on Saturday

According to the BGMEA, 36 factories remained closed yesterday as per Section 13(1) of the Labour Act while two factories remained closed but gave salaries to the workers.

Four more factories went into closure after opening in the morning.

Over 1,500 sued in 9 cases

Over 1,500 people were sued in nine cases filed over attacks, vandalism, and looting of various RMG factories amidst the labour unrest in Ashulia industrial zone.

"At least 31 individuals have been named in these cases, along with over 1,500 unidentified suspects, including both outsiders and workers from the affected factories," Ashulia Police Station Inspector Md Kamal Hossain told TBS yesterday.

"The factory authorities filed these cases with Ashulia Police Station between 5-12 September, alleging attacks, vandalism, and looting during this period," he added.