Return to work by tomorrow

The tripartite crisis management core committee on the garment sector yesterday urged the workers to join their workplaces peacefully from tomorrow as they promised to resolve any dispute in wage structure after the general election on December 30.

The development comes after production at more than 60 garment factories remained suspended for the fifth consecutive day yesterday fearing massive labour unrest.

The workers are assuming there would be discrimination in wage hike among grades.

To diffuse the tension, the government high-ups, members of the industrial police from different areas, trade union leaders, garment manufacturers and trade body leaders yesterday had an emergency meeting at the ministry of labour and employment to discuss the situation.

After the meeting, Salahuddin Swapan, secretary general of the IndustriALL Bangladesh Council, said in a press briefing that the stakeholders in no way want any kind of untoward incident before the general election.

The workers will receive the salary under the new wage structure in January as it came to effect in December.

“So the workers cannot agitate or demonstrate before receiving the salary.” If there is any dispute there is room for discussion to resolve the crisis, he said.

“We will request the workers to not join in any rally or demonstration or stoppage of work programme,” Swapan added.

At the emergency meeting, a consensus was reached to urge the workers to join in their respective workplaces from December 17, said Amirul Haque Amin, president of the National Garment Workers Federation.

“I am assuring you that we will resolve any dispute in wage structure in consultation with the factory owners and labour leaders after the election,” said Mujibul Haque Chunnu, state minister for labour and employment.

Any vested quarter may use the sentiment of the workers before the election, he added.

Over the last few days many factories have been facing troubles due to demonstration by workers, said Siddiqur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

There might have some confusion regarding the salary structure as the minimum wage board hiked the salary in September but it came into effect from this month.

“I urge all of you not to disseminate any provocative information on wage hike before the election.”

Later, at a hurriedly called press conference at the BGMEA headquarters yesterday, Rahman threatened to shut down the 3,200 active factories if the workers continue the demonstration based on confusion on wage hike.