Editorial
BGMEA's unjustifiable demand
Garment exporters must pay the workers their dues
WE find the BGMEA's demand seeking Taka three billion to pay their workers salaries and Eid benefits extremely unreasonable and unwarranted.
The BGMEA has gone further and demanded several other benefits and subsidies that include, benefit of Taka 10 for every dollar on 30 percent of total export costs, at least 5 percent subsidy on interest accrued on the debts in the RMG sector and, a subsidy of Taka ten for every litre of diesel till the supply of gas and power improves.
Putting the onus of the responsibility of payment workers' remuneration virtually on the government is a disingenuous tactic by the BGMEA not only to shirk its obligation but also to put on the shoulders of the government the responsibility of any dire consequence that might follow. Would thus one be wrong to conclude that the demand of the association is a pressure tactic bordering on attempted blackmail? It makes the matter more bizarre when a festival such as Eid is exploited by the BGMEA to press for their demand. The finance minister has rejected the demand outright as he should have.
The BGMEA needs to be reminded that the situation in the power and gas sector is nothing new; it has been so for a long time, and in spite of this the RMG sector had been making profit. And notwithstanding the global recession last year, the sector made an increase of around 4 percent in export; perhaps lower than the year before but increase nonetheless. It is also true that the richer countries that had suffered most due to global meltdown last year are gradually emerging from the recession. Thus, the demand for subsidy for workers' salary appears unjustified on that count.
We have been hearing about the problem in the garment sector, and about workers' unrest stemming from non-payment of their dues. Of course, there are issues of vandalisation in the garments sector and close-down of factories that need to be addressed on a sustainable footing unstuck from ad-hocism. They RMG owners need hardly be reminded that the private sector, particularly the garment sector, is a strong protagonist of free market and if there is a net decrease in profit so should there be reduction in the profit margin of the owners. But the workers must be suitably remunerated for their work, if their skill and experience are to be retained with a longer range view.
We suggest that the garment factory owners devote more time to managing their enterprises more efficiently instead of waiting to be spoon-fed by the government. They should respect the tripartite agreement and share the profit with the workers in the form of better wages, better working conditions and improved safety environment.
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