Rampaging garment workers

An agreement has been signed by all the parties concerned to the effect that the workers' minimum salary would be raised to Tk 1,650 per month. A wage board has fixed the minimum salary, though all the workers have not accepted its recommendation. Again, one must not overlook the fact that workers had their representatives on the board.

But the saddest part of the story is that some owners are not paying even the minimum wage that the owners have agreed to pay, let alone Eid bonus. So most of the workers are left without any money just before their biggest religious festival. The owners, of course, have failed in their duty of ensuring that workers get the money that they desperately need at the moment. It is not a question of being compassionate; the workers are asking for their due.

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The agitating garment workers and their leaders are also not showing a good understanding of the issue. They should try to settle the dispute peacefully through negotiations with the owners. And if such attempts failed the option of organising rallies or processions was there. But pouncing on vehicles or attacking the factories amounted to mindless vandalism that nobody can approve of. People in general have much sympathy for the workers -- the real driving force behind the garment sector. But they cannot expect to get everything right in such a short time. The process of establishing their rights should follow a legitimate course. Any attempt to apply force or resort to violence will be counter-productive.

It seems that the workers are taking advantage of the uncertainty of the transitional period before the election time. If that were true, then there is reason for us to be worried. Obviously, the garment sector is not something that we can allow to be subjected to this kind of violent labour unrest. The rule of law must be upheld by all concerned under all circumstances.