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Vandalism at garment factories

25 May 2006, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Bazlur Rahman, Dhaka University
25 May 2006, 18:00 PM
Photos: AFP
I am condemning the group of people involved in attacking the garment factories inside the Savar EPZ area. RMG has been the major sources of country's export earnings over the years. For a long time foreign buyers have been pressing us for complying with many issues. When the garment factory owners are faltering on many accounts, such vandalism has occurred. It will surely have a negative impact on the country's economy. When some unruly people invaded the Savar EPZ, I was sitting inside the BEPZA office talking to a high official. She expressed grave concern about the arson at the garment factories.

But it must not be forgotten that garment workers are not even paid the minimum wages. Yes, it is right that the factories burnt and damaged are not responsible for the anomalies. But we have to decipher the human psychology. Garment factory owners must consider the issue of minimum monthly salary of Tk 2, 500 and other issues related to working conditions. But we see no positive signal from the owners. Unrest has been growing over the years. Two days ago a worker died in police firing. It has been a common phenomenon in the country that when people agitate for establishing their legal rights, police open fire.

BGMEA and members of all the apex trade bodies are worried about the current tumultuous situation. The government should take the necessary steps to keep the situation under control.

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With the unprecedented violence in several garment units, this industry is now facing a grave crisis. The following questions need to be answered:

a) Who are behind this unrest?

b) Who are being benefited?

c) Is there any political interest behind the subversive activities?

The industry has to be saved at any cost.

Kazi Abu Bakar Siddique, Lalmatia, Dhaka

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I was dumbfounded to watch the developments in the garment sector. I believe enough damage has been done to tarnish our image.

Now the question is how can we come out of this? I would suggest the following:

1. Tangible steps should be taken to address labour issues. The government and BGMEA should work hand in hand is this matter. BGMEA is now strong enough to adopt many corrective measures.

2. A task force should be formed to identify the damaged industries. Assess the loss, and provide soft loan (I dare to say grant), to restart each of these factories in 3 months. It's a challenge, but they must stand up to it. We can streamline the whole process from L/C opening to customs clearance.

3. BGMEA should immediately start processing of unfulfilled orders by distributing them to its associate companies, who have extra capacity, and meet the buyers' deadline. All it requires is a subcontract sort of agreement between original factories and producing factories. Yes, the original factories would suffer huge loss, but the image of the whole industry won't be bruised.

4. It's about time to consider labour welfare seriously. And again this is an opportunity for BGMEA to show the world that they take care of their workers. Provide ID card to each worker, issued directly by the BGMEA authorities. Set up field booths (service centres) around the factory areas, to address labour related disputes. BGMEA should set up schools, hospitals for their workers. I believe each BGMEA member knows how much a BMW X5 costs, but doesn't know how long their workers walk to and from their factories every day.

5. EPZs should beef up security and surveillance.

Are these too difficult to achieve? We are talking about saving a $6 billion industry!

Nasim Haider, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia