Editorial
Trouble in the garment sector
Address the real cause
It cannot but be a matter of concern that off and on our garment factories are subjected to vandalism. Only the other day Savar EPZ came to a standstill following clashes between the workers and the law enforcing agencies. And the reason for the workers going on a rampage, ostensibly, had to do with the rumoured killing of a worker and their arrear salary. Not only were several garment units damaged the highway traffic came to a standstill also for a long time. These acts are highly reprehensible
There is a pattern that we notice in these actions of the so-called workers that started way back in June -- July last year in the garment sector. We cannot understand why these incidents are repeated when it is given to understand by the EPZ authority that the underlying reasons that caused workers' unrest last year have been resolved
Therefore, we would not be amiss in asking whether there is more to the incidents than we have cared to go into. Is it a case of a rumour being exploited with some ulterior motives? Why couldn't the management and all the relevant persons preempt the workers' outburst when, according to the police, the story of the killing of the worker had turned out to be false? It is even more disquieting when we are told that most of those who had participated in causing the damages didn't belong to that EPZ.
We are not sure whether there was any enquiry into last year's unrest that spread to a very large part of the garment sector, and if so, what had been the findings and remedial measures taken to prevent recurrence of workers' unrest.
It is important to realise, both for the workers and the owners that anything which adversely impacts on our RMG sector will impact on their interest too, not to speak of the serious consequences that it will have on the country's economy. And it is for both to ensure that any situation that can be exploited to hamper production in the garment factories is avoided.
We call on the government to conduct a thorough enquiry into Friday's incident and expose the cause and the persons behind the violence and vandalism at Savar EPZ. The findings must be made public and stern actions taken against those whose actions and inactions resulted in the acts of damage and destruction of the garment factories.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments