Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the authorities concerned to protect the interests of ready-made garment (RMG) workers, improve their living standards and strengthen their financial capacity, while ensuring that production and export activities continue without interruption.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad briefed reporters after a meeting at the Secretariat on Sunday night to review the situation in the RMG sector.
Salahuddin blamed the Awami League and India for instigating violence from across the border without mentioning the name. However, the premier recently cited intelligent reports to claim that the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami was conspiring to create an unrest in the RMG sector.
The meeting took place amid ongoing protests by RMG workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, which have led to road blockades, clashes with police, vandalism, arson and temporary closures of hundreds of factories in Mirpur, Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur. Police have reported dozens of arrests in connection with the violence.
PM’s directives on workers’ welfare and production
Salahuddin said the prime minister instructed relevant officials to safeguard workers’ interests and improve their quality of life. He also advised the Wage Board and directed the Labour Ministry to take necessary steps to ensure workers’ welfare.
“The government wants peace, discipline, development and progress. Development of Bangladesh’s RMG industry, increase in export earnings and creation of more employment for workers are the government’s goals,” the home minister said.
He recalled the contribution of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to the growth of the RMG sector and said the government wants the industry to advance further.
Wage board formed; dialogue remains open
The home minister noted that the law provides for formation of a Wage Board every three years to revise minimum wages. Although time remains until December, the government has already taken the initiative to form the board through discussions with owners and workers.
Owners submitted their representative’s name, while there was some delay in receiving names from workers’ organisations. After receiving the workers’ representative’s name on Saturday night, the board was formed and the gazette notification issued on Sunday morning.
Representatives of owners and workers will determine the minimum wage through discussion, taking into account improvement of living standards, a dignified life with families and enhancement of financial capacity, he said.
“The path of dialogue is open for fixing workers’ wages. There was no need for a violent movement,” Salahuddin added.
Warning against violence, arson and factory closures
The home minister said incidents of setting fire to police vehicles, attacks in different places, vandalism of vehicles and arson at factories in the name of the movement are in no way acceptable.
Law-enforcing agencies have been clearly instructed that those involved in violence, disorderly behaviour or attempts to create unnecessary chaos and instability will be strictly suppressed.
Responding to a question about masked people infiltrating recent incidents and incitement, he said analysis of available information shows that some people from across the border are using innocent garment workers to fuel unrest. This is aimed at creating instability in the country, disrupting export trade and obstructing RMG production.
“The government will strictly counter such activities. Legal action is being taken against those involved in violence. Police and other law-enforcing agencies will firmly suppress any attempt at sabotage and disorder,” he said.
On factories closed due to the movement, the home minister said owners of the RMG industry have been urged to keep production activities running. Any factory closure should be temporary.
“Production must be kept normal through mutual discussion and understanding between owners and workers. Everyone must remain careful so that production and supply of goods for export are not disrupted in any way,” he said.
Call for alertness on security of lives and property
Separately, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, after meeting the prime minister, said Tarique Rahman called on everyone to stay alert for the security of people’s lives and property.
“He is saying that factories and industries should run properly and people’s lives and property should remain safe. For that, we should all stay alert and take proper measures,” Ariful said.
He alleged that some quarters are conspiring to destabilise the country ahead of December and said the government would politically counter any fascist plot to destabilise it.
The meeting at the Secretariat was attended by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad, the prime minister’s political adviser Nazrul Islam Khan, Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, the prime minister’s adviser Mahdi Amin, and BNP labour organiser and Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal chief coordinator Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas.