The government, apparel factory owners and labour leaders have agreed to resolve the labour-related conflicts through discussion among themselves instead of taking those to various international forums. They reached the consensus in the first meeting of the tripartite advisory council on ready-made garment (RMG) sector, headed by State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque at his secretariat office in the capital on Tuesday. “We might have some problems in the country’s RMG sector. But, those can be addressed internally. It is shameful and embarrassing for us, if such issues are taken to other global platforms before informing the government,” the state minister said. Terming the garment sector ‘important’, he assured the stakeholders of taking necessary measures for resolving any problem in the sector. Earlier, the government formed the 20-member council, comprising of six representatives each from the government, the workers and the factory owners – Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwea Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) – to address the labour-related issues that sometimes create volatility in the labour-intensive RMG industry. BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman said any problem at plant level lessens the buyers’ confidence, and the owners do not want to face such problems. He assured all that they would solve the problems through discussion with all parties concerned including the workers. Nazma Akter, assistant secretary general of Industriall Bangladesh Council, suggested the government to handle the labour-related issues more smartly. “Trust and confidence between the owners and the workers must be enhanced.” Admitting some improvements in the workers’ rights situation, she also suggested better coordination among other related ministries to resolve legal issues and allow trade unions. Delwar Hossain Khan, general secretary of Bangladesh Labour Federation, recommended monthly meeting of the factory management with the workers to make them feel that they are an essential part of the supply chain. The number of factory inspectors is insufficient to inspect some 8.0 million establishments across the country, he said, suggesting strengthening of both Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishments and Directorate of Labour. A Ministry of Commerce official informed the meeting that EU, US and other Sustainability Compact partners want to see more progress, particularly in the four issues mentioned in a special paragraph by International Labour Organization (ILO). He said Ministry of Labour and Employment is responsible for addressing three issues – amendment of labour law, trade union registration and protection of labour leaders from violent reprisals. He also recommended further progress, especially in smooth trade union registration as well as in stopping harassment and reprisal of the labour leaders. The Compact partners also want launching of consultation for making necessary amendments in the labour laws, the official noted. If the progress in this regard is not satisfactory, a high-level EU monitoring team will arrive in the country. It might cause a formal investigation to review Bangladesh’s GSP eligibility in the European Union markets, he added. BGMEA vice presidents Mahmud Hasan Khan and Mohammed Nasir, among others, were also present in the meeting.
