Ban on Trade Unionism
The government's prohibition of all forms of trade union activity in Bangladesh Bank has been generally well-received. The rather extraordinary move seems to have been prompted by the riotous turn of events at the central bank last week. But this was the unstoppable culmination of a haemorrhagic attrition the institution has suffered through rival trade unionism topped off by CBA tyranny over the long haul.
The fact of the matter is that CBAs have for a long time ceased to be dedicated to the service of the workers and staff members; instead these have been veritably self-serving to a point where they stand thoroughly exposed today to all and sundry. The government's task force on trade union activism has found out the reckless abandon with which CBA omissions and commissions have occurred in the Nationalised Commercial Banks. A quarter of the total salaried workforce in the NCBs do not work at all, a highly demoralising swipe for thousands of their colleagues who have to earn a livelihood by the sweat of their brow. Such unduly privileged job-holders furthermore enjoy running parallel administrations in the banks with all the paraphernalia and having the say in most matters including even disbursement of loans, as reported in certain news papers lately. All of this would call for an extension of the ban on trade union activity to the entire nationalised commercial banking sector.
Basically the trade union laws are flawed rendering an instrument for the safeguard of labour rights and welfare completely vulnerable to internal corruption and intrusive political influences. The present laws tend to foment rival trade unionism by stipulating that any one party getting a minimum of 33 per cent of the labour vote can be recognised as a CBA. For the sake of healthy trade unionism in the country, we urge the government to reform the relevant laws in consultation with the ILO and other appropriate institutions, both at home and abroad. Until then trade union activities may remain suspended in all the NCBs. Simultaneously, in greater public interest, the government should also think of releasing an investigative report on the assets position of the trade union leaders.
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