RMG workers threatened of losing jobs

In the wake of recent demonstrations for higher wages by workers in Savar and Ashulia on the outskirts of the capital, the pay structure of RMG sector has been readjusted and many workers have returned to work, RMG insiders said.

However, the workers who had been part of the demonstrations, now fear losing their jobs, labour leaders alleged.

The leaders also said the workers fear arrest as factory authorities filed cases accusing about 2,500 workers on charges of stealing and vandalism of factories.

Union leaders said almost all the workers accused in the cases have lost their jobs. A significant number of female RMG workers have also been included in the lay off.

Bangladesh Garments Sramik Sanghati president Taslima Aktar said the workers will take to the streets again, protesting against the law suits and suspension.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Siddiqur Rahman told Prothom Alo that it was decided at a tripartite meeting at the secretariat on Tuesday that innocent workers will not be harassed.

"Those who were involved in vandalism would be brought to book. A number of cases were filed accordingly," he said.

The BGMEA president said the labour leaders did not make any complaint to them about the job cut.

Ashulia police station officer-in-charge Rezaul Haque said some 12 workers were arrested in eight law suits with his police station. More cases are in the pipeline, he added.

According to Savar police station, some eight workers were arrested in two law suits with the police station.

Talking to some female RMG workers including Khushi Begum at Jamgora of Ashulia, they said a number of their fellow male workers were made accused and they were not attending to work.

Savar committee president of Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, Md Ibrahim said a large number of workers are coming to him after losing jobs.

The workers of different garment factories including FNF Apparels, Al Gausia Garments, Knit Asia, Hollywood Garments and FGS Denim have communicated with him.

"The workers fear the cases. They are also afraid that if the list of suspended workers is posted online, they will be blacklisted by BGMEA and will not be employed in future," Md Ibrahim said.

Biplabi Garments and Textile Sramik Forum convener Shahidul Islam said a number of workers in Ulail area of Savar were accused and they also lost jobs.

The retrenched workers have already started finding jobs in other factories, he said adding it was noticed in the past that the workers, who lost jobs, had to change their professions.

Workers in hiding

Local landlords and garment workers said many of the workers had left their houses after the cases were filed.

Officials at Ashulia police station said on 8 January, security officer Abdus Salam of Charabag Knitting and Dying factory filed a case with Ashulia police station against 55 identified and 300 more unidentified workers for vandalising the factory and looting readymade garments worth Tk 500,000 from there.

On 9 January, Baraipara area’s Mahmad Fashion factory authorities filed a case against 29 identified workers among 54 for beating officials, looting garments and intimidating the authorities.

Kathgara area’s Orbit Apparels filed a case against 50 unidentified workers on the same grounds on the same day.

On 10 January, AR Jeans Producers authorities filed another case against 311 workers mentioning names of 61 workers for beating up factory officials, vandalism and robbing laptops.

The authorities of the Knit Asia in the Ashulia’s Narshinhapur filed case against 50 workers of the factory for beating factory officials and vandalism on the same day.

Also, on 13 January, JK Groups filed a case against 25 identified and 165 unidentified workers with Savar police station for robbery and beating officials.

Earlier on 8 January, industrial police filed a case against 1,500 unidentified workers with the Savar police station.

Dhaka district police superintendent Shah Mizan Shafiur Rahman said the cases were filed against those who committed the crime. The police are careful about harassment of any innocent workers, he added.

A notice hung on the gate of AR Jeans Producers states temporary suspension order of 172 workers.

The workers at the factory said they joined the demonstration peacefully, boycotting their work. They did not take part in vandalism, road blockading or beating officials.

Despite their peaceful demonstration, they have now been suspended.

Fifty per cent of the suspended employees have been sued, said the victims adding that, some of them have already been arrested by the police.

Asked about the matter, Nazma Aktar, president of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, a garment workers' rights body, said, “We repeatedly told a meeting on Tuesday not to suspend and harass the innocent workers.”

“The demonstrations of the workers may have been brought under control through cases, suspension and threatening them with the police, but it will bring no good in future,” she added.

“I request the government to look into the negligence of the owners.”

*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam and Toriqul Islam