EDITORIAL
Cases filed against 'unnamed' garment workers
In the aftermath of the violent protests that engulfed the garments factories in Ashulia and Savar industrial zones, the police have filed cases against 215 individuals and a further 1,000 unnamed garment workers on charges of vandalism and looting and reportedly more than 800 workers have been laid off. While we fully endorse that those involved in damaging and looting of property during the labour unrest are held to account, it is also our position that workers shouldn't be randomly sacked or suspended from jobs without adequate proof and going through the proper process.
The government has revised the wage board and we have been assured that the new wage board will be followed from now on. It is imperative that calm and order is restored in the RMG industrial parks in the country because work stoppage is something neither the industry nor the workers can afford. At the end of the day, committing vandalism, destruction of property, arson and looting are unacceptable at any level no matter what the circumstances.
Garments workers in general need to understand that these factories are the hands that feed them and protecting them is in everybody's interest. The information gap regarding what is owed to whom under which pay grade is something that needs to be narrowed. Workers, factory owners and the country as a whole suffer when we cave in to our more primal instincts and resort to violence that leads to work stoppage and loss of business. The statement 'no work no pay' is a death sentence for any worker and whatever differences of opinion exist, workers need to shun this culture of violence and learn to bargain collectively over the table to get their dues.
- Courtesy: The Daily Star /Jan 17, 2019
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