NGOs, unregistered trade unions barred in RMG industry: State minister

No NGOs will be allowed to open office in Ashulia and other readymade garment industry areas, State Minister for Labour and Employment Md Mujibul Haque (Chunnu) has said.

The decision to drive out the NGOs along with unregistered trade unions and workers' organisations from these areas was taken at a meeting with the owners and workers' leaders of RMG factories, Chunnu told the media after the meeting at the Secretariat on Thursday.

"Many unregistered trade federations, NGOs have set up offices centring the garment factories in Ashulia and Gazipur, despite having no job here, to mislead the workers in various ways," he said.

"We have reached a consensus that such unregistered trade unions, federations and NGOs cannot have any office in Ashulia and other RMG industry areas," he added.

He also said the government does have any objection to the registered trade unions and the organisations having offices there.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) blamed NGOs for instigating the workers' unrest in Ashulia last year.

The state minister, too, said the unrest was 'premeditated'.

"That situation created a gap between the government and the workers' leaders. We have hold discussions to close the gap and avoid any damaging situation in the RMG sector. Now we, the workers, owners and the government, have reached a consensus," he said.

Following the unrest, several workers' leaders were arrested.

The minister said 'some' of them could still be in jail, but will be freed 'very soon'.

IndustriAll Bangladesh Council Chairman Amirul Haque Amin said the number of such workers' leaders is four to five.

BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman said the owners also do not want any innocent worker or leader behind bars.

Chunnu said the owners also agreed to reinstate suspended workers, who are willing to return to their factories.

Siddiqur said 1,500 workers were suspended over the unrest over a pay rise demand in December last year. Dozens of factories were closed due to the unrest.