Delayed action on workers’ dues will deepen RMG crisis

Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has urged the government to act swiftly to ensure garment workers receive their rightful dues, warning that further delays will increase losses in the industrial sector.

In a video message on Wednesday, Shafiqur said garment workers had been protesting in different industrial areas across the country over wage hikes and other demands for the past several days.

The unrest has forced many factories to close, while incidents of vandalism and arson have also been reported in some areas.

Expressing concern over the killing of a garment worker named Toufiq in Sreepur, Gazipur, on Tuesday, he condemned the incident and demanded a fair investigation to bring those responsible to justice.

Describing the readymade garment sector as the country’s main export industry, Shafiqur said any major disruption in the sector would harm the national economy.

He said it had become difficult for low-paid workers to make ends meet amid rising prices of essential commodities.

The government should have considered their demands and revised the wage structure through discussions with all stakeholders, he added.

“Just as saving industries means saving the country, it is equally true that saving workers means saving industries,” he said.

Shafiqur warned that delays in addressing workers’ legitimate demands could further damage the sector and create opportunities for vested groups to exploit the situation. He urged the government and all concerned parties to act sincerely and cautiously.

Expressing solidarity with the protesting workers, he urged them to protect their workplaces while pursuing their legitimate rights.

He also called on factory owners to treat workers as members of their own families, saying this would make it easier to reach decisions.

Shafiqur concluded by praying for the deceased worker and expressing condolences to his bereaved family.