No Plot to Create Disorder by Exploiting the Workers' Movement Will Succeed: Mahdi Amin's Warning

Mahdi Amin, the Prime Minister's adviser on education and primary and mass education, has issued a strong warning that no conspiracy by banned political parties to create disorder by weaponising workers' demands over pay and wages will succeed. He made the remarks in a post published on his verified Facebook account on Monday (2 November).

Mahdi Amin made clear that while the path to realising workers' legitimate demands remains open, there will be no room for rampage, vandalism or sabotage in the industrial sector.

Tracing the background of the garment sector, he noted that Bangladesh's garment industry began historically through the far-sighted initiative of martyred President Ziaur Rahman, which opened horizons for women's empowerment and large-scale employment in the country. He said the industry also expanded, and strong steps were taken to protect workers' rights, during the rule of Begum Khaleda Zia.

He said that, continuing that trend, the labour-friendly administration of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, elected by the people's vote, is committed to establishing fair wages, dignity and rights for working people. He noted that after coming to power, the government swiftly ensured that workers were paid all their salaries and bonuses on time during the last Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha.

Reminding that millions of workers, officials and employees, the product supply chain and the overall economy are closely tied to the garment industry, the adviser said that alongside ensuring suitable wages for workers, factories' production costs, capacity and competitiveness in the international market must also be given importance.

He said that for this reason the Ministry of Labour and Employment has formed a new wage board, with participation from owners, workers and neutral representatives, to re-fix wages in the garment sector. He expressed hope that a realistic and reasonable minimum wage will be finalised through positive discussion among all sides.

However, Mahdi Amin alleged that an identified group is trying to destabilise the garment industry in the middle of the wage-fixing process. He wrote, “Attempts to divert workers' demands into a different channel through the incitement and sabotage of the fallen autocrat's accomplices are not acceptable. Attacks on factories, setting fires and assaults on police go against the interests of the workers.”

Noting that if industrial establishments are damaged or shut down, the workers themselves will face the greatest financial loss, he said unemployment would rise, export earnings would fall and the overall economy would be thrown into severe crisis. No violence or attempt to destroy industry will therefore be tolerated.

Calling on ordinary workers not to step into traps of incitement and rumours, Mahdi Amin said, “Our appeal to our ordinary worker brothers and sisters: do not fall for any rumour or incitement. The labour-friendly government will always stand beside you in establishing every reasonable and just right.”