Today,15 April, 2005 a half day seminar on the employment and compensation status of the RMG workers in post MFA period was organized by Shadhin Bangla Garments Shramik Karmachari Federation and Shama Bikash Kendra. The seminar was held in Dhaka at the WVA Auditorium Nasimul Ahsan Dipu, Advocacy chief, INCIDIN Bangladesh presented the discussion paper while Mir Abul Kalam Azad, General Secretary, Shadhin Bangla Garments Shramik Karmachari Federation, Moderated the session and Ms. Shamema Nasrin, President, Shadhin Bangla Garments Shramik Karmachari Federation presided over the seminar. Sheema Das of Shama Bikash Kendra, Z. M Kamrul Anam of BNC, Partho Sharothi Gosh and G.M. Sarwar of ACC also spoke on the occasion. The seminar was a part of the chain of event organized on the occasion of Global Week of Action.
The speakers, called on the political leaders to come up with a united national forum to safe guard the rights and interests of the RMG workers in the post MFA regime. This forum should also involve the trade union representatives, other civil society actors as well as government representatives. The forum should hold the list of the RMG garments workers and monitor and mobilize a crisis coping fund to ensure compensation of any worker who may loose job in the post MFA regime. The paper indicated that according to a report of the New Age (Friday, 23 April 2004), the Ministry of Commerce estimates that from 3-4 lakhs to 8 laks of workers of the RMG sectors may loose jobs after MFA is phased out as 600 factories may be closed down. 85 percent of the RMG workers are female while 30 percent of them are the primary earners of their families.
Ms. Shamema Nasrin called on the political parties and trade unions to unite on a National Platform to safe guard the rights of the RMG workers. Abul Bashar, stressed on the need of inclusion of the workers representation in the national committee formed by the government to cope the challenges imposed by MFA phasing out. Mir Abul Kalam Azad called on the workers to launch a united movement to reopen the closed textile plants and to ensure workers rights in RMG sector. He mentioned that by reopening the closed textile plants the government will be able to promote backward linkage to the RMG sector.
The seminar was supported by the Christian Aid.
Reported by:
Mir Abul Kalam Azad
Shadhin Bangla Garments Shramik Karmachari Federation
The Make Trade Fair Alliance stress that the government needs to look at the issue of market access linked with the issue of livelihood security of workers. The policy proposal was developed through a rapid assessment with the RMG entrepreneurs and a consultation meet with the trade union leaders of the RMG sector. To finalize the policy proposal of the Make Trade Fair Alliance, a consultation meet was organized by INCIDIN Bangladesh with the civil society actors. Among others, Professor Abul Barkat, General Secretary, Bangladesh Economic Association, Selina Shelly, Country Representative, Oxfam (GB) Bangladesh, Ratan Sarkar, Executive Director, INCIDIN Bangladesh, Nasimul Ahsan, Advocacy Chief, INCIDIN Bangladesh, Mr. Faruq Hasan, Policy Analyst of BRAC, Ahmed Tazmeen of North South University, Abul Hossain, President, BGWEF, Amirul Haq Amin, President, Jatio Garment Sramik Oikko Parishad, Ziaul Haq Mukta of Action Aid Bangladesh, Shahidul Islam, Reporter, The News Today participated in the discussion.
The Make Trade Fair Alliance underscores that the government can play a vital role in making sure that the workers and the development activists see that their concerns are reflected in the policy proposals at home and at global forums. This will create a common interest of the labor, business and the third sector to work together with the government, and enable the government to attain its objectives both nationally and internationally.
Reporter,
Nasimul Ahsan
Advocacy Chief
INCIDIN Bangladesh
On behalf of the Make Trade Fair Alliance