BGMEA seek media’s positive stand to protect RMG sector;Editors, economists, teachers call for balanced wage for RMG workers

By AKM Moinuddin

Dhaka, Jul 14 (UNB) - Conspiracy, low wages for workers and lack of congenial working environment are the main reasons behind the recent violence and unrest in the RMG sector that almost brought the highest export earning sector near extinction, speakers said at a discussion Wednesday.
They suggested balanced wage structure for workers, introduction of trade unionism, developing internal intelligence unit, permanent platform of discussion, skilled and trained workforce, and strong public relations body towards resolving the prevailing crisis by protecting the interests of both workers and owners.
The discussants, which included editors of leading national dailies, economists, university teachers and garment manufacturers, made the observations at an opinion exchange meeting on `Present Crisis in RMG Sector’ held at Hotel Sheraton in the city.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) arranged the meeting, which was presided over by its president Abdus Salam Murshedy.
Taking part in the discussion, executive director of Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Prof Mustafizur Rahman said bargaining will be there between owners and workers but the people want to see a balanced wage structure for the RMG workers.
“We hope the minimum wage structure, likely to be announced on July 28, will match our assumption and expectation,” he said urging the owners to protect the interest of workers.
Prof Mustafiz identified conspiracy, low wage and uncongenial working environment as the key reasons behind violence and unrest in the RMG sector.
Samokal editor Golam Sarwar said it is urgently needed to have an acceptable wage structure through blending the workers’ expectation and the owners’ interest for protecting the garment sector.
He sought political consensus for the protection and further flourishing of RMG sector keeping the RMG units out of political programmes including hartal.
“Media is supportive to you. We’ll stay beside you, not to protect your interest but to protect country’s interest,” he said.
Dhaka University Prof Asif Nazrul said the owners should consider with utmost sympathy the minimum wages for the RMG workers.
“It (RMG) is not an industry of any party, rather of the country. It’s the responsibility of all - owners, workers and the government - to protect this industry,” he said adding that conspirators are getting the scope to create unrest in the sector as anger is prevailing within it.
Prothom Alo joint editor Abdul Qaiyum said the number of RMG units providing better facilities to the workers is very few. If the owners fail to ensure better facilities to the workers of all RMG units, there will be unrest in future even with increased minimum wages.
Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamol Dutta said neither the government nor the RMG owners have any mechanism to deal with over 30 lakh RMG workers and this puts the sector into trouble.
“The garment sector is now on the verge of destruction… a victim of negligence and both the government and owners are responsible for this,” he said.
Acting editor of the daily Sangbad Moniruzzaman said mutual trust between workers and owners did not develop in the RMG sector even after 30 years of the sector’s journey.
“If you can’t build trust and if you fail to take the workers into confidence, you can’t resolve the problem even by increasing the minimum wages,” he said.
Former BGMEA president Tipu Munshi MP said they are sincere about increasing the wages for the workers gradually, not at a time.
“We can’t give the amount that they (workers) desire, as our capability didn’t increase. If we’re given time, we’ll increase the wages gradually.”
He sought a positive stand from media after the announcement of minimum wages for the workers.
Independent editor Mahbubul Alam, advisory editor of the daily Ittefaq Habibur Rahman Milon, BFUJ president Iqbal Sonhan Chowdhury, News Today editor Reazuddin Ahmed, New Nation editor Mostafa Kamal Mazumdar, Commonwealth Journalist Association president Hasan Shahriar, special affairs editor of bdnews24.com Baby Moudud and Destiny executive editor Mahmud Al Faisal, among others, also took part in the discussion.
END/UNB/AKM/