Problems linger in garments sector

Evidently, there is a good deal of unfinished agenda to be addressed; for, at stake here is 75 per cent of the export earnings that the apparels sector accounts for. There are fiercely competing garment producing countries which might not sit idly by, not to speak of the two million workers, mostly women, being critically dependent on the sector for their livelihood.

With the chips down and the first blast of the intense commotion among the workers generally gone, the garment factory owners are making their positions clearer on the questions of minimum wage and grant of trade union rights. Drumming up support of the chamber bodies in a meeting on Saturday, the garment entrepreneurs voiced their opposition to the idea of fixing a minimum wage for the workers and allowing trade union in the factories. Their contention appears to be that if they fix a minimum wage as a flat rate with an across-the-board implication, their competitive edge in relation to other exporters will be undercut. Well, they have their own reasons but obviously they need to elaborate on them. More to the point, why don't they advance their own formula and talk it out with the workers' representatives? As for trade union too, all concerned parties are only too willing to listen to both sides and the best argued case shall win.

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It is only through consultation among all the stakeholders that the right decision can be arrived at. It doesn't help to criticise only, solutions and alternative ideas need to be given and considered.