The BGMEA’s recent announcement to not disburse the wages of the dead workers to their families would be farcical if it were not so disgraceful. Then, to add insult to injury, it had the gall to claim the prime minister’s funds given to these families were sufficient.
A month ago the BGMEA showed signs of positive assurances, gushing with sympathy and compassion for the victims and their families, and announcing it would set up funds for them.
Fast forward a month later, and their tone has changed. Rather than take up the mantle of responsibility, the BGMEA has backtracked.
That it gave the surviving workers a minimal compensation package with only their outstanding wages, refuses to pay the dead workers’ outstanding wages, using grants given from the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund as an excuse to not cough up, is outrageous.
The PM fund has no connection with workers’ wages. It was given out independently by the PMO. The garment owners are still accountable and for them to shirk their responsibilities is inexcusable.
The families of the dead workers need the money, as these workers were one of, if not the sole, breadwinners of their families. How will these families survive?
Given that the Rana Plaza collapse is the worst garment disaster in the nation, and given the international mood, it boggles the mind that the BGMEA would think to make the kind of statements it has. And the fact is there appears to be no mechanism for holding it accountable.
Part of the problem is that it can say anything, and do an about-face altogether.
That needs to be changed.