'Ensure workers' rights to boost garment industry'

They said the workers are the main driving force of the garment industry and the recent unrest was the outbursts of their accumulated grievances.

Negligence and non-payment of due wages to workers over the years had forced them to take to the streets, they observed.

The roundtable titled 'Garment workers' agitation: Impact on politics and economy' was organised by Samaj Anushilon Kendra at the National Press Club in the city.

The speakers said the spontaneous agitation of the workers forced the owners to review their attitudes towards the workers in the industry.

Garment workers should be given a decent wage and other facilities such as weekly holiday and maternity leave to solve the crisis prevailing in the apparel sector, they added.

Criticising the political parties, the speakers said no political party came forward in support of the workers during their agitation, rather they took the side of the owners many of whom are the members of different parties.

They called on the authorities concerned to implement immediately the tripartite agreement signed among the government, owners and workers to restore normalcy in garment sector.

Speaking at the roundtable Prof Anu Muhammad said the government, garment owners as well as the general people became aware of the exploitation of the workers following their agitation in the last few months.

He said despite rise in garment production and gross domestic product (GDP) in the last few years, the wages of the workers were not increased proportionately.

He also underscored the need for initiating an anti-sexual harassment policy in garment sector to protect women workers.

Samaj Anushilon Kendra President Mushtak Hossain, Journalist Abu Syed, Supreme Court Advocate Dr Shahdeen Malik and CPB leader MM Akash also spoke at the roundtable.