[ALOCHONA] External forces' heinous plot to destroy RMG sector?

WIDESPREAD WORKERS' VIOLENCE External forces' heinous plot to destroy RMG sector?   The garment sector is facing violence and widespread anarchy over the past several months and more so in recent weeks and the factory owners and industry leaders are blaming a vested interest quarters for it.    Factory owners are also blaming the government for tolerating it without taking stern action to contain the situation. The way violence is spreading unchallenged, experts say the RMG sector may end up in a disaster.    The industry leaders from the BGMEA and BKMEA say these 'terrorist' gangs masquerading as trade union leaders and activists are inciting factory workers. They are deploying 'unknown faces' in industrial areas to pursue the workers to join the unrest in the name of 'promoting and protecting' their interest.    They are inciting workers for enhanced pay and clearance of overtime dues and arrears, which many factory owners say are either exaggerated allegations or distorted manipulations of the ground realities.    The industry leaders are blaming the growing unrest as part of a bigger conspiracy to destroy the country's burgeoning garment industry. They say the roots of this conspiracy lie outside the country and some of the NGOs are lending support and protecting the unruly leaders under the covert machinations of some foreign agencies located in Bangladesh.    Last week the industry leaders issued an ultimatum to the government, particularly after the recent massive destructions in garment factories at Gazipur asking it either to provide immediate protection to their factories or they would be forced to close them down before the forthcoming Eid. They are apprehending renewed attacks before the Eid.    But the government appears to suffer from indecision. The factory owners are blaming the industry leaders for failing to take credible steps to contain the unrest. It has already vandalized 158 factories since January last at Gazipur, Savar, Ashulia and Mirpur areas where the largest number of garment factories are located. So far more than 600 factories have been attacked. Destruction of property and violence appears to be spreading unabated. Newspaper reports say the intelligence agencies have got detailed information about who are those people behind the destabilization at factories and singled out the name of several so-called trade union leaders behind the violence. But the authorities appear reluctant to take action against them.    Critics claim that the concerned authorities had recently detained one fake TU leader on charge of inciting the garment workers, but had to release him without taking any action because of his strong external backing. They say, this perhaps explains the law enforcement agency's reluctance to act against them.    Newspaper reports say that the allegations of the so-called trade union leaders are largely false and distorted. The reports say out of the 158 factories which sustained attacks and destructions recently, 115 had no problems with workers as they are making regular payment of wages and overtime bills. And the remaining 43 factories have some problems and the agitators targeted them at a time when owners were trying to work out solutions. Under the present situation, some owners have become afraid of visiting their own factories and wondering how to protect their properties, save investment and meet shipment schedules of the buyers.    It is clear that the workers, by and large - with the exception of some factories having problems - are not supportive of any violence. They understand that a deep rooted conspiracy is on to destroy their working places where they earn their livelihood. More significantly, by nature, female workers are opposed to violence at work place. But what al of them have in common is a demand for wage hike, which under the circumstances appear reasonable.    The BGMEA has already proposed a 20 per cent wage hike, besides distribution of rations at low cost during Ramadan. It may be inadequate in the current market situation and the matter may be sorted out in the tri-partite bargaining forums. But if the factories and the work places become the targets of vandalism, they may close down shutters which will make hundreds and thousands of workers jobless. In that event, question of a wage hike becomes meaningless.    Informed sources say that the fake TU leaders with the task of destroying the garment sector is now pursuing the garment workers to join them in the act of destruction of factories. They are also known to be collecting Taka 20 per month from each of the workers ostensibly to meet the expenses for the agitation to raise their wages and other benefits. In the process, this group of fake TU leaders is developing a stranglehold on the entire garment sector to destroy it at their will.   http://www.weeklyholiday.net/front.html#03

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