FOR the past week, many of us have been involved in the merriment and festivities that Eid means for everyone. Having good food, wearing new clothes and spending memorable moments with family and friends are all that occupied many of our minds. But for the 1,600 workers of the Tuba Group garments, all that revolved around their minds was the bid for survival as another episode of irresponsible management and treatment by garment owners unfolded right before the start of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The employees of 5 different garment factories under the Tuba Group owned by its infamous Director Delwar Hossain, have been deprived of their remuneration for the months of May, June and July along with festival bonuses. This was due to the mismanagement of the Tuba Group’s officials and lack of supervisory activities by BGMEA citing the incarceration of Delwar Hossain (which was caused by his involvement in the Tazreen Garments fire that killed 112 people in 2012) as a reason behind the fund constraints. Even if we are to set aside such a flimsy excuse, the BGMEA and the government should have been more involved to support the factory workers as their families have been deprived of their only means of survival. Over Tk.4.14 crore is required to pay the workers their three months’ arrears and Eid bonus, which should not be an issue for the BGMEA and the government had they cooperated together to manage the funds.
Hundreds of Tuba Group employees have staged sit ins and are also continuing a hunger strike unto death from the day before Eid but the police interrupted and were involved in scuffles with the agonized yet peaceful protesters who merely wanted what was owed to them. Many of the employees have already fallen sick in the past few days and were transferred to hospitals nearby. Anu Muhammad, a Professor at Jahangirnagar University, was quite apt in stating that ‘the fact that we have a government is only felt when workers are beaten. We do not see the government when workers starve.’ Even though his words seem harsh, they ring true as BGMEA and the government’s vague assurances of payment in a few days ran dry as according to reports, banks refused to loan the Tuba Group any money as they appeared as risky assets. According to reports, the State Minister for Labour, Mujibul Haque has urged garment industry leaders to solve the current crisis, but in reality took no effective step in ensuring that sincere efforts were made by BGMEA.
According to reports, the BGMEA decided to initiate moves to arrange money from its members and banks in order to solve the immediate crisis and hold Delwar Hossain liable for all the costs and losses incurred. Whether this is another empty attempt at merely clouding the waters and instilling a temporary peace remains to be seen. We can only hope that something is done soon so that the workers do not have to bear an extended suffering of their already painful woes. The government should not exist to only to beat workers by the police – it should also remember that workers are citizens who have the right to be paid for an honest days’ work. Our system of governance is reaching new levels of inefficiency.
