Referring that workers in the readymade garments (RMG) sector play a vital role in country’s export earnings, workers’ leaders have strongly demanded specific allocations in the national budget for FY 2019-20 ahead of its final approval in the national parliament tomorrow (Sunday). They demand to consider the fundamental issues like rationing, housing facilities and education for workers’ children in the budget.
Alleging that the RMG sector workers are deprived in many ways although the country's 84 percent of export earnings come from the apparel sector and workers are the main driving force behind it. President of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Dr Rubana Huq said the living cost of garment workers has increased sharply which should be taken into serious consideration.
Leader of a garment workers federation, Sultana Begum told Bangladesh Post that workers are not paid sufficient wages. They need rationing facilities, healthcare, education support etc but in the proposed budget there is no indication in this regard, so she demanded allocation for the workers in the budget before it is finally approved.
"In the budget for FY 2019-20 the government has given 1 percent cash incentive for the RMG owners for which an amount of Tk. 2,825 crore has been allocated. But owners have got various facilities from the government in the past, I am not against that facilities because RMG is the top most export earning sector, but I must say that RMG workers should get at least their fundamental needs", Sultana added.
Drawing attention of the government for meeting the fundamental demands of the workers, she also demanded budgetary allocation in transport facility and industrial zone based hospital facilities for the workers in apparel sector. Another worker leader, Md Elias demanded specific allocation for the 45 lakhs garments workers and their 4 crore family members in the budget.
"There are various crisis in many of the country's garments factories that include low wage, lack of transport facility etc., our factory owners, buyers are mainly responsible for that but at the same time government also has the responsibility to address the problems", Elias said.
