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Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has urged the government to swiftly revise the wage structure for garment workers to resolve the ongoing labour unrest in the country’s apparel sector.
“Saving the industry means saving the country. But it is equally true that saving workers means saving the industry. The government must therefore make a quick decision to ensure fair wages for workers. The longer the decision-making process is delayed, the greater the damage to the sector will be,” he said.
Shafiqur Rahman made the call in a video message posted on Jamaat-e-Islami’s official Facebook page on Wednesday (November 4).
He said garment workers had been protesting in different parts of the country over the past few days, demanding payment of wages, allowances and other benefits. Several factories had already been shut down amid the unrest, while incidents of vandalism had also been reported in some areas.
He warned that opportunistic groups might try to exploit the situation, urging the government and all concerned parties to act responsibly and remain vigilant.
Describing the garment industry as the country’s leading export sector, he said any major disruption in the industry could have serious consequences for the national economy.
“We had expected the government to come up with a quick and reasonable solution to the problem, but it has yet to take any effective steps,” he said.
He noted that it had become increasingly difficult for workers to make ends meet on low wages amid rising commodity prices. He said the government should have considered workers’ demands and initiated discussions with both factory owners and workers to revise the wage structure promptly.
Addressing garment workers, he urged them to protect their workplaces, saying he stood by their legitimate rights.
He also called on factory owners to treat workers as members of their own families, saying this would make decision-making and resolving disputes easier.
Urging the government to act without further delay, he said swift intervention was necessary to prevent further damage and stop anyone from exploiting the unrest.
Condemning the killing of garment worker Toufiq, from Gaibandha, in Sreepur, Gazipur, Shafiqur Rahman demanded a fair investigation and the swift arrest of those responsible.
He also prayed for the salvation of the deceased’s soul and expressed deep condolences to his bereaved family.
