The government yesterday decided to form eight committees immediately to reduce frequent labour unrest in the country's readymade garment factories.

 

The committees -- two in Narayanganj, two in Gazipur, and one each at Ashulia, Tongi, Savar and EPZ area -- will be operated under the Crisis Management Cell of the ministry. Joint secretary of the ministry's labour wing will head these bodies.

 

“A certain quarter is constantly trying to create unrest in our garment industry. The chaos at the Islam Group of Industries on Tuesday was created by this group,” said Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, labour and employment minister.

 

“We have decided to form the eight committees in important garment zones to prevent the repetition of such unfortunate incidents, and to identify culprits and punish them,” he said.

 

He was speaking at a meeting held by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) leaders, the labour and employment ministry, and garment workers at the secretariat in Dhaka.

 

Md. Siddiqur Rahman, the BGMEA Vice President (Finance) who was present at the meeting, said, “We want to follow the country's labour law. Nevertheless, such chaos is very unfortunate. It will ruin our reputation and eventually we'll lose the majority of our export.”

 

Source : The Daily Star