Labour leaders oppose RMG factory layoffs

Labour rights groups have expressed their dissatisfaction over the strategy of the readymade garment factory owners to announce layoffs at their units during the public holidays amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Trade union leaders claimed that many of the factory owners announced layoffs at their units putting workers in the throe of uncertainty which was unethical.  

Factory owners adopted the strategy to gain benefit by depriving workers as they (workers) would be entitled for half of their basic payment and house rents during the layoffs, labour leaders said.

They also urged the government to look into the issue and called on the garment factory owners not to announce layoffs at their units amid the pandemic.

Earlier on March 23, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association sent a letter to its members stating that the factory managements could go for factory closure as per the Sections 12 and 16 of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 that empowered a factory management to go for layoffs.

Salahuddin Shapon, former secretary general of IndustriAll Bangladesh Council on Sunday said that it was completely illogical and unlawful to announce layoff at RMG factories during the general holidays.

He said that the objective of the government announcement of the incentive package of Tk 5,000 crore for the payment of workers’ wages of the export-oriented sector would not be fulfilled with the factories deciding to lay off workers.

Shapon urged the government not to accept factory lay-offs during the general holidays.

If government allows owners declared layoffs, 8-9 lakh workers of RMG sector would be fully deprived of their due wages and allowances as they had been employed for less than one year, he said in a letter to the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments.

Nazma Akter, president of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, said many garment factories announced layoffs during the COVID-19 closure while a good number of factories in recent days informed their workers about factory layoffs through cell phone messages.

According to BGMEA data workers of 2093 factories from its 2274 active member units received wages of March and payment remained under process in 181 factories until Sunday.

Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, former vice-president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association on Sunday said that all of their member factories but 14 paid workers wages for March.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net