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Bangladesh's DIFE calls for not terminating RMG workers
10 Jun '20
2 min read
Pic: Shutterstock
Bangladesh’s department of inspection for factories and establishment (DIFE) recently urged garment factory owners not to terminate any worker to avert labour unrest. During an April 25 tripartite meeting among the government, factory owners and union leaders, it was decided workers will not be terminated in this situation, DIFE said in a circular.
In the last two months, some 17,579 workers in 67 factories have been terminated in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Gazipur, Savar and Ashulia because of the economic fallout of the pandemic, according to DIFE statistics. The terminations have resulted in incidents like blockades on roads and highways.
Union leaders say many factory owners also paid only 60 per cent of the salary and bonus with the promise that workers will at least not lose their jobs. Many terminations happened nonetheless, they said.
Trade union leaders, workers and different trade union organisations have been coming to DIFE to lodge complaints and for solutions as workers are being terminated and factories are closing due to lack of work orders, Amirul Haque Amin, president of National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF), was quoted as saying by bangle media reports.
However, workers should not have been terminated as the government gave a stimulus package worth Tk 5,000 crore and owners also paid only 60 per cent salary, Amin said.
There should be a central coordination committee soon involving government, buyers, factory owners, union leaders, leaders from Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association for monitoring the termination of workers and spending funds which are meant for garment sector, it was demanded.
In the last two months, some 17,579 workers in 67 factories have been terminated in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Gazipur, Savar and Ashulia because of the economic fallout of the pandemic, according to DIFE statistics. The terminations have resulted in incidents like blockades on roads and highways.
Union leaders say many factory owners also paid only 60 per cent of the salary and bonus with the promise that workers will at least not lose their jobs. Many terminations happened nonetheless, they said.
Trade union leaders, workers and different trade union organisations have been coming to DIFE to lodge complaints and for solutions as workers are being terminated and factories are closing due to lack of work orders, Amirul Haque Amin, president of National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF), was quoted as saying by bangle media reports.
However, workers should not have been terminated as the government gave a stimulus package worth Tk 5,000 crore and owners also paid only 60 per cent salary, Amin said.
There should be a central coordination committee soon involving government, buyers, factory owners, union leaders, leaders from Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association for monitoring the termination of workers and spending funds which are meant for garment sector, it was demanded.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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