Apparel Online Bangladesh Magazine January Issue 2019 | Page 34

INDUSTRY DIARY - 2018 FACEBOOK FRIENDS To subscribe, send us an email at [email protected] Join more than 10,000 people who are already fans of Apparel Resources on facebook. Search for Apparel Resources at https://www.facebook.com/apparelresources/ Labour Issues & Trade Unions APPAREL RESOURCES NEWSLETTERS Worker-related problem is emerging as a big challenge for the industry. While some feel that a strong law should be formulated to keep things in control, others blame it on the trade unions for pushing things a bit too far. << Mir Gulzar-A-Alam CEO, Western Fashion Tex & Sourcing << Engineer Elias Hossain MD, Exploretex Fashion Mfg. Co. & Summer Fashion Ltd. If Bangladesh Government becomes keen to formulate a robust labour law, I think they can do it quite easily. But it is really sad that the Government has very little or no intention to formulate a business and labour- friendly policy to promote the apparel industry. The developments within the industry have been occurring due to the self-motivated efforts of the owners. The Government is actually doing nothing in terms of reshaping the industry. It’s not a good sign for the industry which is looking forward to achieve US $ 50 billion export earnings by the end of 2021. I think, besides the manufacturers or the garment factory owners, the Government and the trade bodies, including the BGMEA, and the BKMEA need to take massive steps immediately to formulate an effective labour law to take the industry one step ahead. From the perspective of a small manufacturer, I would say that the Government is doing a good job to ensure adherence to labour rights and workers’ safety. The ILO has been working in this industry for quite a long time and I think the Government and BGMEA can formulate a labour law within a short time to satisfy the international stakeholders including the ILO. Since our business depends heavily on foreign buyers, the international requirements should be fulfilled on priority. CEO, Aryatex Sourcing << Ashis Kumar Das 34 Apparel Online Bangladesh | January 2019 | www.apparelresources.com I am in favour of trade unions in garment factories for the welfare of the workers and the readymade garment industry in general. But to tell the truth, these so-called trade unions are widely used to further political gains by some vested interests. If one looks at the reality, no significant or well-meant steps are taken for the welfare and improvement of the garment industry as well as for garment workers by these trade unions. Due to wrong practice of trade unionism, lots of garment units are in threat of extinction owing to spiralling labour cost. One needs to understand that the RMG sector is a labour-intensive industry and the trade unions should work positively as a part and parcel of the industry body. To develop trade unions and ensure just labour practices, we need well-informed, conscious and educated workers’ society, which can understand and work for the growth of the country’s economy. I feel the Government and the BGMEA should take the trade unions under a controlled formulation of practice to ease the regulations of trade unions totally. In this direction, we should follow China’s Textile & Apparel Policy, even though it will not be very easy for us to do. Khondoker Mahibur Rahman (Sumon) Managing Director, Stanley Fashion BD I personally believe that each and every trade union or any organisation should be under some rules and regulations. I feel that firstly we have to think about our garments sector and not about the worker. If there will be no garments, we would not need any garment worker or trade union as such. Currently what the trade union leaders are doing is asking for workers’ satisfactory salary, their job security, etc. I think the worker’s salary ought to be fixed automatically and no rule needs to be made for the same as such…