What is the cause of the current wave of protests by factory workers?

Although the government accepted the 18 demands of RMG workers at the end of September, the communication of the announcement as well as its implementation remained problematic. For example, demands such as increased tiffin allowance have not been adequately communicated to all factories. Additionally, some factories have been reluctant to comply with the directive. In Ashuli, most factories accepted the directive, but in places like Gazipur and beyond, we noticed that the directive was not properly communicated and owners were also reluctant to comply.

Another problem regarding unpaid wages has arisen in several factories where the owners are currently on the run. Those who were aligned or sheltered by the previous regime fled after the political change or change of government. As a result, there are no clear guidelines on who should control these factories, who will pay wages, or who will defend workers’ rights. No clear instructions are available either from the factory authorities or from any government office or ministry. There is ambiguity over who is responsible: should it be the Metropolitan Police, the Industrial Police or military personnel, who have recently been given temporary judicial power?

Although the military has in many cases attempted to locate owners and ensure payment of salaries, it also faces difficulties because handling these matters is not part of its usual protocol. The industrial and local police, traditionally responsible for these issues, now appear hesitant. They still seem to be waiting for military intervention. Their fear of reprisals due to a past abuse of power remains. However, it would be unfair to blame workers for this fear, as the police themselves once abused the law and are now reluctant to act for fear of reprisals.

Is there a political aspect that influences these labor issues?

Many factory owners were previously affiliated with the former ruling party, the Awami League, or enjoyed political shelter from AL. Additionally, many use the ready-made garment industry, Bangladesh’s largest, to gain political advantage. By inciting a little unrest, one can easily take advantage politically or advance specific political goals, scapegoating workers. In this sense, workers are used to advance a political agenda, and we have observed such problems arise in the labor sector.

We see a similar problem in the used clothing industry, although the government has tried to mitigate the problems. Recently, conflicts erupted between two factions of the BNP over trade in scrap-based garments and similar unrest took place in Chattogram, Ashulia and Gazipur. If this political conflict is not resolved, a third party will continue to exploit workers for its own interests, making it even more difficult to effectively resolve the issues.

What measures could improve the situation between workers and factory owners?

Communication between factory owners and workers is key to bridging the gap. Without clear communication, the distance between workers and owners will only grow. The best approach to reducing this gap is to allow workers to freely exercise their union rights. If workers could freely unionize and exercise their bargaining rights, this would greatly reduce external confrontations, allowing discussions to take place on factory premises rather than on the streets.

A major unresolved issue remains: the demand for a reevaluation of salaries. For two or two and a half months, workers have been demanding a salary increase. The government has set a deadline until December and a committee has been set up to address this issue. If this committee manages to work effectively and produce a viable solution, it could restore calm to the industry in the coming days. I believe the committee should recommend an increase in wages, taking into account the quality of life of workers as well as the financial capacity of the industry. If the committee can provide a fair recommendation based on these factors, and the owners and government accept it, then the wage increase could finally bring the peace that workers seek in the industry.

Do you think any government has proactively supported workers in the past, even before demands were made?

No political party or administration has ever systematically defended the interests of the working class. When they do so, it is often to appease specific groups or to satisfy their own interests. Throughout my career, I have never seen a government voluntarily intervene to improve conditions for workers. No administration has presented a dedicated plan to strengthen workers’ rights, and no government has actually addressed workers’ problems beyond verbal promises.

If this caretaker government ignores the importance of labor issues, it will make a big mistake. Of Bangladesh’s 17-18 million population, nearly 7.5 million are in the labor force, at all levels, including white-collar workers. Ignoring their concerns is not an option; the government should sit down and engage in dialogue with labor representatives.

In an ideal world we would see political representation for workers, similar to that of the Labor Party in the UK. Although left-wing groups in our country claim to represent the working class, throughout our history we have not seen them speaking in Parliament. Workers have not yet reached the point where they can form their own political party or hire political representatives. However, there should be a way for workers to have a political voice. Otherwise, those of us living in marginalized communities will continue to be left behind.

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