It is just a week now that a deal between workers and readymade unit owners was struck in presence of Government reprezentatives and all the hell has been let loose. As per the deal, employees were provided paid days off, union membership and a new minimum wage policy would be announced within three months.
Now, the Union leaders claim dissatisfaction among workers and they were reportedly preparing ground to stage mass protests this week in demand of a 30 percent hike in wages.
According to Shahida Sarker, President of the Bangladesh National Garment Workers Federation, about 16 Unions have joined this agitation programme as they claimed that last week's MoU failed to adress on the vital issue of workers' wages.
While widespread unrest has witnessed voilent agitation and loss to property, worse has been the exports of textiles and garments that will reveals negative effect soon as this sector claims top spot among foreign exchange earner for Bangladesh.
Flagrant labour law violations, unhygenic working conditions and workers exploitation via payment of low wages seems to test readymade garment manufacturers who were so far earning the fruits of prefferential trade arrangement with the US and the European Union member countries. Surprising is the fact that even workers form Export Processing Zones in and around Dhaka, the capital, join the violence spree causing immense loss to sectoral property that may put the clock of progress for Bangladesh's high growth industry, back to nowhere, from here.
marketing@alchempro.com
