Some owners also behind garment unrest, home minister warns of firm crackdown

Some factory owners are involved in creating the unrest and violence in the ready-made garment sector, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad has said. He said some factories have been kept closed deliberately, and the leaders of the owners' organisations have been asked to hand the government a list of those owners. Those involved in sabotage and destabilisation in the name of a workers' movement will also be suppressed, he said.

The home minister made the remarks to reporters on Monday (November 2) after a meeting at the home ministry's conference room at the Secretariat with leaders of garment owners' organisations BGMEA and BKMEA.

Salahuddin Ahmad said the meeting with the owners' leaders began at 9:30am. It was attended by the labour minister, the expatriates' welfare and overseas employment minister, prime minister's adviser Mahdi Amin, MP and labour leader Shimul Biswas, senior government officials, the cabinet secretary, the home and labour secretaries, senior police officers and representatives of intelligence agencies. The owners' views were heard and the recent situation was discussed in detail, he said.

On the wage board, the home minister said the initiative to form a wage board to set the minimum wage every three years was taken following demands from labour organisations and the owners. The government began the process a few weeks ago. The owners submitted their representatives' names, while the labour organisations took a few days; the workers' side finally submitted its representatives' names on Saturday night.

The labour minister then formed the wage board through a gazette notification on Sunday, following due process. The board's first meeting could be held today, or its work will begin shortly, the home minister said. He hoped the minimum wage could be set in the quickest possible time through discussion and review, noting a deadline of completing the process by December.

Salahuddin Ahmad said the prime minister has given instructions on improving workers' living standards and protecting their interests. The wage will be set after talks with both owners and workers and a review of the overall situation and realities, he said, adding that there is no reason for discontent or violence over this.

On the recent violence, the home minister said attempts have been made over the past few days to create unrest through road and highway blockades, arson and other incidents. Those fuelling these incidents have been identified, and questions have also been raised about the role of some factory owners and some people under the banner of labour organisations.

He said those who, in the name of a workers' movement, are involved in acts against workers' interests, in worsening the law and order situation or in conspiracies to destabilise the country will be suppressed with a firm hand. Several people have already been brought under the law, and video footage, audio and other evidence of the violent incidents have been collected.

The home minister said the government is both worker-friendly and investment-friendly, and will take the steps needed to increase exports, expand trade and development, create employment and ensure workers' rights and welfare.

On the next steps, he said a meeting with representatives of labour organisations will be held at 3pm on Monday. The owners were heard in the morning; the labour leaders' views and suggestions will be taken in the afternoon, and the next course of action will be decided after talks with both sides.

Asked about the worker identity of some protesters, the home minister said they do not believe genuine workers are involved in the recent unrest. Genuine workers or labour organisation leaders would not want their own employment and factories to be harmed, he said, warning of those who want to use workers to serve political purposes.

He said the owners' leaders have been asked to provide a list of those keeping factories closed deliberately and of the organisations and individuals involved in creating unrest. The government has sought their cooperation and the owners have assured it. The government wants to ensure that no worker loses their job and no factory is closed, he said.

The minister said the home ministry had written to the labour ministry on the 18th of last month warning of possible unrest, and advance caution had been given. Preparations were in place, he said, and the labour minister had tried to resolve matters peacefully through talks with those concerned. Had the workers' representatives' names come earlier, the wage board could have been formed sooner.

He added that the time given for discussion allowed both owners and workers to make their situations understood, and it is now becoming clear who is behind the unrest. Law enforcement agencies have been instructed to firmly suppress any attempt to create violence and disorder.