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The garments industry in Bangladesh has been expanded almost uninterruptedly since the late 1970s. The successful export oriented readymade garments (RMG) industry of Bangladesh has observed remarkable growth since its beginning late 1970s. Paradoxically, this flagship industry of Bangladeshi private entrepreneurial talent took roots through the first export consignment of shirts from Bangladesh made by state trading agency, the trading corporation of Bangladesh made by state trading agency, the destination was some east European countries. Subsequently, however, private entrepreneurs entered the industry and phenomenal growth took place in RMG exports in Bangladesh. Export of RMG increased from us dollar 40 thousand in 1978-79 to us 6.4 billion in 2004-05. The industry has also provided employment to nearly 2.8 million workers (BGMEA, 2009) most of them women drawn from the rural areas.
The garments industry in Bangladesh has been expanded almost uninterruptedly since the late 1970s. The successful export oriented readymade garments (RMG) industry of Bangladesh has observed remarkable growth since its beginning late 1970s. Paradoxically, this flagship industry of Bangladeshi private entrepreneurial talent took roots through the first export consignment of shirts from Bangladesh made by state trading agency, the trading corporation of Bangladesh made by state trading agency, the destination was some east European countries. Subsequently, however, private entrepreneurs entered the industry and phenomenal growth took place in RMG exports in Bangladesh. Export of RMG increased from us dollar 40 thousand in 1978-79 to us 6.4 billion in 2004-05. The industry has also provided employment to nearly 2.8 million workers (BGMEA, 2009) most of them women drawn from the rural areas.
Explosive
growth of RMG exports is of not inimitable to Bangladesh. The annual compound
growth rate of RMG export industries Indonesia (31.2%) Mauritius (23.8%)
Dominican Republic (21.1%) compares favorably with that of Bangladesh (81.3%)
over the 1980- 87 periods. However while the initial conditions were favorable
for export growth in the countries noted above; this was far from the truth in
case our country. The ratio of the workers male: female was 9:11 and there age
limit was 18 - 35 years. 90% of the workers are from helper to operators.
Others are supervisors, technicians etc. Their education level is primary to
secondary level where 57% workers are only able to write their names, 36% of
the workers are living in the slums and others are in the match sift houses.
Only 62% workers are sending their children to school.
The
garments workers are earning their breads by very hard labor. They render to
the owners from the dawn to midnight. Sometimes they have to work even for more
than 24 hours without rest (they get breaks for their snacks, which are
arranged by the authority) during in the emergency shipment. Of course they are
still ill paid, notwithstanding the different labor revolution for various
times. In 2006 there was a huge movement in the garments industry where a lot
of factories were gutted, vandalized the infrastructures for their various
points of demand. The fast point demand was to increase the minimum salary in
the entry level at least 3 thousand taka per month. Later govt. had fixed that
2200/- tk. per month but later the BGMEA fixed it only tk. 1667 (one thousand
sixty seven) per month by a trilateral agreement (BGMEA-Bangladesh govt. and
labor union of garments workers) which is final to concluding the movement so
far.
During
a fieldwork, working with the questionnaire it was randomly found by the
visitors that some workers are not getting this amount also from the factory
owners. They have no holidays and even sometimes they are forced to work in the
holidays. On occasion, the owners pay their salary after a month’s delay by
showing different excuses. Moreover, reduction of wages, attendances are in the
common practices in the garments floor. The garments workers have no job
security yet. Anytime without any reason they may be suspend, demotion,
transferred even sacked from the company. Even though there is a clause in the
service rule that the sacked employee should get at least one month salary from
the company if he/she is sacked from the company without any cause (surplus,
lack of work) but in fact, the due salary is not given sometimes. Very few
companies abide by the rules of govt. and BGMEA. Each company has its own rules
as all of the garments workers are ill fed and ill clad. Hardly can they spend
for their accommodation after purchasing their food staffs. They can’t be a
chooser rather live in an area only to stay alive. In our field work, we have found
that most of the garments workers are live in the rented slums; the room is 10
feet x 12 feet, roofing by iron sheet. Common unhygienic bath, kitchen for 8 –
10 family, shortage of water, crude electricity line etc. monthly rent each of
the room is tk. 1800.
The
garments workers are in low profile regarding the academic education. In the fieldwork
most of the female workers only can write their names and address, most of them
left the school after primary education. Few of them have gone to class viii.
Most of the guardians of the garments workers are poor. They prefer to thing
job is better than education. Most of the guardians are also illiterate. They
think female education will not bear a good result to their family rather
working in the garments factory will bring some money which will help them to
run the family smoothly. Only 87% of garments workers send their wards to
school while other 13% are showing different causes that why could not send
their children to school. 73% are in the primary level, 19% are in the high
school and only 8% have crossed the S.S.C and none was found H.S.C passed
above.
As
a human being we must need amusement in our leisure time, to refresh the mind. In
fact, work productivity is ultimate goal. But hardly the garments worker can
manage time to have the amusement even in the holidays they have to work
sometimes. Recently, a collapse of a cracked building where there was 5 RMG
garments has caused nearly 1100 deaths and most of them were female workers.
The clients of these garments are mostly from western countries. Due to the
high demand, the owners forced the laborers to work because they had to export
urgently. Once again, the workers were trapped and they could not escape death
because of the lack of emergency exits.
Bangladesh,
which focuses on the low cost labor to attract the international companies, is
today the 2nd largest exporter of RMG products in the world but this strategy
is based on a short-term view et is not aware of the social and environmental
costs. What is needed is a long-term vision to invest in the developments of
buildings & managerial competences. The owners & the Govt. should also
be entitled to take their share of responsibility. The Govt. should investigate
the cause of accidents and prosecute those whose negligence is the cause of the
death of workers. They should also be engaged in a national inspection program
to make sure the factory buildings meet the safety requirements. For their
parts, the owners should also immediately examine the security issues of their
garments, perform a investigation on their factory buildings, cooperate with
the unions to train the workers of security policies and should also allow the
workers to voice their concerns. Bangladesh is proud of being the 2nd largest
exporter of RMG products in the world. We want this country to enhance its
pride by assuring the security of factory workers.
Wahid Murad
Copyright : www.multidimensionparis.com
Wahid Murad
Copyright : www.multidimensionparis.com
