WE appreciate that normalcy has returned to the garment factories in Ashulia, Savar and Gazipur as the workers have resumed work because the owners agreed to meet their 18 demands.
According to media reports on Thursday, the demands include attendance allowance, night allowance and implementing the minimum wage.
The situation is expected to remain peaceful since all the stakeholders, including the government, union leaders and factory owners have agreed to the workers’ demands.
Earlier on Tuesday; representatives of readymade garment manufacturers and workers have come to the agreement on the workers’ legal demands with a view to addressing the concern of the sector.
Meanwhile, BGMEA insiders said, garment factory owners lost more than $100 million during the recent unrest, as many were unable to maintain production.
Currently, the rapid pace of production and shipment of goods to clear the backlog caused by the labour unrest are the two major challenges.
As a result, the exporters may have to either offer discounts to international retailers and brands or resort to costly air shipments to meet the tight lead times set by their buyers.
However, retailers and brands remain supportive and have assured exporters that they will wait until normal operations are restored.
As part of the agreement, the owners will provide an additional Tk 225 as an attendance bonus and increase night and Tiffin allowances by Tk 10, bringing the total to Tk 100.
The outstanding wages will also be cleared soon. The government also plans to regulate the jhoot (waste fabric) trade, as disputes over control of this market have been identified as a key factor behind the recent unrest.
A joint committee with six representatives from both manufacturers and workers sides will assess the possibility of forming a new minimum wage commission within six months.
Repeated protests since last week of August put apparel exporters in a complex situation.
They suspect 20 to 30 percent orders for the next season have already shifted to other countries.
For a country like ours heavily reliant on its garment exports, such shifts in buyers’ confidence do not bode well for both the industry and the country.
So, the stakeholders in this industry – the government, factory owners and union leaders — must undertake a comprehensive review of the health of the industry and provide necessary support to help raise it again.