Pull back layoffs and pay readymade garment workers’ wages

The government had announced a Tk 50 billion stimulus package for apparel and export sectors to overcome the impact of coronavirus. It was expected that the RMG workers would be paid their monthly wages. Already a month has passed that included coronavirus-enforced lockdown, but many factory owners have not paid their workers’ wages. According to the law, wages of a preceding month are to be paid within the first seven days of the next month. The BGMEA leaders had said the workers would be paid by 16 April. Still, by 24 April, workers of several factories were not paid.

The suffering of the workers were further intensified by widespread layoffs across the sector. As many as 90 per cent factories laid off workers in last one month. The workers will receive half the wage due to the layoff. The factory owners claim they had no option but to go for layoff as the factories were closed. This could be an appropriate reason for layoff at other times, but it’s not when the government announces general holidays for coronavirus outbreak. The workers did not take the leave on their own to press home their demands.

Following the intense reaction among workers due to layoff at 90 per cent factories, the government said those who enforced layoffs would not be allowed stimulus. Doubts remain whether the government can stick to its decision finally. As the government is offering special privileges to the owners, the owners too should pay the due wages of the workers.

The owners insisted on layoff as they joined in a tripartite meeting on opening factories held on Wednesday. A decision has been taken at the meeting to gradually open the factories, but no official announcement has been made in this regard. According to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exports Association (BGMEA), 96 per cent workers, totaling 2.424417 million, have been paid wages. It said the payment of wages was under process at remaining four per cent factories. According to them, number of factories that still did not pay the workers for March is in 20 in Dhaka, 28 in Gazipur, nine in Savar-Ashulia, nine in Narayanganj, 23 in Chattogram and three at some remote areas. The number of workers deprived of wages will increase if the BKMEA (Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association)’s member factories are included.

According to the workers' organisations, the number of deprived workers is even bigger. Wages have been paid in half at many factories. Several factories have been shut down. These organisations claim already 25,000 workers have lost their jobs.

How will the workers survive in this situation? If daily life was normal, they could have borrowed money from somewhere and manage to survive. But it’s not possible in such epidemic. The factories that still have not paid the workers’ wages for March, must pay that without delay. The BGMEA must not avoid its responsibility in this regard. The owners too should recede from their decision to enforce layoff.