Editorial
RMG workers' disruptive behaviour
All concerned must prevent its recurrence
It is unfortunate that several hundred RMG workers vandalised more than a dozen garment factories at BSCIC industrial area in Fatullah on Monday, thereby causing extensive damage to the units. The unruly workers then blocked the Dhaka-Narayanganj and Dhaka-Munshiganj roads causing severe traffic congestion in the entire area. In a separate development at Savar, reportedly another group of garment workers put up blockades on Dhaka-Aricha road and damaged nearly 30 vehicles. In both the places, workers clashed with the police and injuries were sustained by many.
The reason for the demolition spree was learnt to be the demand for salary hike. But, by all accounts, the manner in which the frenzied workers pressed for their demands at both locations smacked of fomentation by ring leaders. A small group suddenly went out of their unit and called workers of other factories to join them in creating an anarchic situation that spilled over to the roads.
Workers might have genuine demands but there are ways to have them met. What is the point in taking a self-destructive path? They should be encouraged to use negotiating methods. There is no reason why talks pursued sincerely should not succeed in reaching a common ground. With world economic downturn casting a shadow across the export sector, it is all the more imperative that workers behave responsibly and the employers are empathetic to the workers' plight. The garment owners, to maximise the skill of the workers, need to pay timely attention to their genuine grievances without letting these snowball.
We believe the authorities concerned would launch an investigation into the latest spate of violence and devise ways with the management and union leaders to stop recurrence of the same.
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