# Reasons for dissatisfaction in factories identified
# Workers will not get salary if factory layoff
# BGMEA threatens indefinite closure of factories
Govt to take stern action if found unstable: Asif
Problems will be resolved soon after discussions: Adilur
A group is trying to build one movement after another in a planned way to push the government into an unstable situation. This time, the largest sector of the country's export earnings has been added to the list.
After rickshaw workers, doctors, Ansar, judges and secretaries, a quarter is now trying to stage a coup in the garment industry with anti-discrimination slogans.
Factory owners said that if the unstable situation created in the name of labor protest does not improve, the factory will be closed indefinitely.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and other organizations related to the apparel sector have also strongly supported the warning.
However, all garment factories will be reopened today and the government will take stern action if the unstable situation occurs, said the labour adviser and industry adviser.
Meanwhile, a meeting was held with the advisers of the interim government with BGMEA, labor organization leaders, industrial police, senior officials of law enforcement agencies at the BGMEA office yesterday.
Industries Adviser to the interim government Adilur Rahman Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Farida Akhter, Adviser to the Ministry of Labour and Employment Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, senior officials of BGMEA, BKMEA and law enforcement agencies and garment industry labor leaders were present at the meeting.
Adilur Rahman Khan, industries adviser to the interim government, said all readymade garment factories in the country will remain open today. Government will take special measures if unrest is created in any factory. It will be remembered if anyone deliberately tries to keep the factory closed to endanger the country's economy.
Adilur Rahman Khan also said that the government has formed a committee to solve the problems arising in the readymade garment sector. The problem will be resolved quickly by discussing with everyone through this committee. The culture of working together that was destroyed has to be brought back.
Labour Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan said, "The workers are talking about themselves like many others as a democratic environment has been created in the country. A labour committee has been formed to address workers' grievances. They have started working on all the complaints and demands. However, it is not that there is no conspiracy in the workers' movement."
The labor adviser also said that the government has already started working on the process of introducing rationing system for the workers. In addition, the process of withdrawing the cases filed during the movement to increase the wages of the workers at the end of last year has started. The government will ensure that there is as much scope for trade unions as there is in the labor law. However, Asif also said that strict action will be taken against those who will go beyond these processes and no one will be spared in this regard.
BGMEA President Khandaker Rafiqul Islam disagreed, saying all garment factories will remain open today as the government has assured security. However, if unrest is created in any factory, the factory will be closed indefinitely from Monday according to section 13/1 of the Labor Act (no work, no salary).
GOC of the 9th Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army Major General Md Jahangir Alam presided over the meeting. Moyeen Khan said the demands of the workers are logical, but it is not possible to resolve the unrest in the industry unless resolved. The army will work with the highest priority to protect the garment industry.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Army has identified three reasons for labor unrest. These are: the attack of outsiders, the combination of logical and illogical demands of the workers, the unrest is being maintained; dominance of the jute business. But the invasion of outsiders is no longer happening.
At the meeting, the industrial police said that a gang is creating unrest in the industrial factory to push the government into an unstable situation. Now it is important for the advisers to pay special attention to the labor unrest of Beximco Group.
ZH
