The recent spate of apparel industry unrest spiralled out of control due to the absence of a recognised representative for workers who could effectively negotiate with owners over the prevailing dispute, industry insiders have said.
Neither the factory owners nor the labour union leaders could single out a factor or a group that might account for the recent – or for that matter the last three years’ – spike in turbulence in the biggest foreign currency earning sector of the country’s economy.
“No single organisation or union can control the unrest. Besides, there is no organised group [that represents the workers],” said Nasir Uddin, a director of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
“The general practice is that when workers demonstrate, we meet with them and settle down the issues through discussion,” he added.
The BGMEA stalwart said union or federation leaders appeared on the spots of violence when national issues such as wage rates arose, but they did not maintain a direct connection with the workers all the time.
“Union leaders take the credit when workers come to the BGMEA with allegations of violation of rights, although they seldom have any contribution in the arbitration,” Nasir Uddin slammed the labour leaders.
On the other hand, Sirajul Islam Rony, president of the Bangladesh National Garment Workers Employees League, said: “We do not have any control over the workers’ violent protests. Unknown groups give rise to the violence out of the blue.
“We generally try to control the workers through our wings in the respective factories, but in most cases we have very little representation in the individual factories,” he said.
Regarding the unrest that has been going on over the last two days, Rony told the Dhaka Tribune: “Workers should not turn violent with regard to wages. The national board will decided on the minimum wage.”
Although he could not place any concrete evidence, Rony said: “To a great extent, the [latest] unrest is induced by outsiders.”
Bahrain Sultan Bahar, president of Jago Bangladesh Garments Sramik Federation, asserted: “On behalf of the workers, we negotiate with the owners regarding their complaints.”
He also said: “We do not control them as they are not our servants; but the federation leaders try to manage them.”
Bahar, however, refused to comment on the role of the union leaders at turbulent times.
Seeking anonymity, a BGMEA director said: “In most cases, the workers go wild without any logical reason. They do not have the least idea or knowledge about their or the unions’ rights.
“They just follow rumours and fall prey to the manipulation of vested interests. The union leaders of a poor country [like Bangladesh] just enjoy the cream of such a demonstration and remain busy serving their own interests.”
He also suggested that the government should introduce a guideline regarding union rights.