Business organisations have been used for political gain in the past. There was no democratic practice in these organisations. Leadership was determined by selection. A conflict of interest arises when businessmen become MPs and ministers.
Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Employment AHM Shafiquzzaman made the remarks on Saturday at a shadow parliament debate competition, organised by the Debate for Democracy in Dhaka, read a press release.
Shafiquzzaman continued, “There has been an attempt to spread negative news about Bangladesh's garment industry in the international media. So that the country’s exports are reduced. Besides, spreading wrong information has created unrest in the industrial zones.
“Foreign forces are fueling the turmoil in the ready-made garment sector.”
He added, “If the instability in this sector is prolonged, the purchase orders may go to other countries. That is why conspirators are trying to create chaos in Bangladesh’s garment industry.
“However, due to the appropriate initiatives of the government, the dissatisfaction has been largely removed.”
Shafiquzzaman then pointed out, “There cannot be two types of labor laws in the same country. The issue of starting a labor union in EPZ is under consideration of the government. Initiatives will be taken to discuss this matter with the owners and other stakeholders.
“In the last fifteen years, the Labor Welfare Fund has not been managed according to the rules. The money of this fund is kept in some banks which are now in risky condition. This fund has Tk 1,000 crore. The incumbent government will ensure maximum transparency and accountability in the management of this fund.”
Presiding over the event, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran said, "We support the fair demands of the workers. We do not accept in any way depriving workers of opportunities, including wage discrimination.
“However, we do not support the protest in the name of unreasonable demands of the workers. We do not accept outsiders entering factories in force and inciting ordinary workers to participate in protests.”
He continued, “We feel that these people are trying to destabilize the garment industry and destabilize the current government. It has even been seen that some of the instigators of the labor movement are neither garment workers leaders nor garment workers.
“There are allegations that a neighboring country is trying to capture our garment industry market by creating this instability. Therefore, we hope that all the owners and workers will find a solution through bilateral discussions to stop unnecessary worker dissatisfaction in the garment industry.”
Kiran then stated, “During the previous government, the regime had registered some so-called dummy workers' organisations to gain support from the workers' organisations. It is important to find out whether the registration of these labor organisations has been done properly or not.
“Action should also be taken to find out whether these yellow trade unions are working for political interests behind the recent unrest in the garment sector.”
He added, “However, apart from domestic-foreign instigation, there has been dissatisfaction in the garment industry due to various reasons including wage inequality of workers, uncertainty of work, absence of some factory owners, inadequacy of enforcement forces to control jhut trade.
“Currently, more than 40 lakh workers are working in the garment industry. With the sweat of their labor this industry stands tall in the chest of the world.”
Kiran pointed out, “If they do not get minimum wages, decent working environment, safe factories, labor rights are violated and health security is not provided then the state honors including CIP-VIP status of the factory owners will fade away.
“Therefore, garment industry owners should consider every worker, employee as a member of the family with love like their own child. On the other hand, the workers should not unnecessarily create an unstable environment in the factories by giving the status of guardians to the factory owners.”
Because investment in this sector, employment and exports are disrupted, the economy will collapse. Then there will be no owners and no workers, he added.
Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran gave the following 10-point recommendations to address the current instability in the garment sector, taking into account the interests of the workers.
Debaters from Tejgaon College defeated debaters from Prime University in a debate titled “Political interests over workers' rights creating unrest in the garment sector,” organised by Debate for Democracy.
Trophies, crests and certificates were awarded to the champion team at the end of the competition.
