RMG owners fear unrest ahead Seek govt help

RMG owners fear unrest ahead Seek govt help

Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Daily Star

Staff CorrespondentBGMEA leaders yesterday sought assistance from the government to check labour unrest that they fear will flare up in the coming months.

Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) leaders fear many garment factories would be shut in the near future and factory owners would not be able to pay wages to workers on time due to decreasing exports caused by the global financial meltdown.

They demanded the government provide owners of those factories easy loans so that they can pay their workers and no labour unrest takes place.

The government yesterday alerted intelligence agencies about possible infiltration of militants in the garment sector in the guise of workers and their subversive acts to create anarchy in the apparel industry.

A 42-member BGMEA delegation, led by its newly-elected President Abdus Salam Murshedy, placed their demands at a meeting with Home Minister Sahara Khatun and State Minister Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj at the home ministry.

After the meeting, Sohel Taj told reporters, "Militants might infiltrate the garment sector and NGOs might also try to destabilise it. We are well-aware of it and our government will protect the sector at any cost."

Sohel Taj said, "The government would take stern actions if any NGO or militant outfits try to destabilise the garment sector."

He said some militant outfits might try destructive activities in garment factories on the outskirts of the capital. He said the government is determined to strike back. "We direct the intelligence agencies to be alert," he said.

The state minister said if any militant outfit is hidden under any NGOs, stern action would be taken against them.

Asked whether foreign elements are involved in this, he said whoever they are the government would flush out those elements inimical to the garment sector.

He said they do not have any specific information on militant infiltration or attacks but the government would never allow the 14 crore people and the garment industry to be taken hostage.

BGMEA leaders pointed out that due to the global recession there has been a 17.5 percent export fall since January and 20 percent price drop. They said for this most of the owners of medium-size garment factories would not able to pay salaries to workers in the coming months.

In their statement addressed to the home minister, the BGMEA leaders observed, "Banned militant outfit JMB and some labour organisations patronised by fundamentalists are trying to destabilise the sector."

Instigated by local and foreign conspirators, criminal activities including ransacking, torching and barricading roads have been going on based on rumours regarding delay in salary payment, read the statement, signed by BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy.

It said a united effort is a must to face these problems that are expected to intensify in the coming days.

The BGMEA leaders demanded more security measurers to protect the country's premier foreign currency earning sector. They suggested that the government form upazila- or zone-based committees comprised of garment owners, local lawmakers, police and intelligence agencies to check labour unrest.

It put forward some demands including establishment of industrial police to maintain peace and discipline in the apparel sector, allowing covered vans engaged in export work to ply the city streets during the day, strengthening the hotline between the crisis management cell, BGMEA and the police department, strengthening highway police patrol, ensuring smooth supply of electricity and monitoring the activities of different NGOs and labour organisations.

The home ministry offered all necessary cooperation to solve the problems.