DHAKA : With a view to maintaining fair law and order and stable labor conditions in the garment sector, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has been organizing meeting with labor federations on a regular basis. In continuation of this, an important meeting of BGMEA leaders with representatives of IBC affiliated labor federations was held at the BGMEA office in Uttara on July 13, according to a press release.
The meeting discussed how BGMEA and IBC affiliated labor federations can work together to advance the garment industry, brighten the image of the industry at home and abroad, and resolve the legal problems of labor brothers and sisters.
The meeting, chaired by BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, was attended by BGMEA Vice President Md. Rezwan Selim and Director Asef Kamal Pasha.
The meeting sought the cooperation of the IBC-affiliated labor federations in maintaining sound law and order and a stable labor environment for the smooth running of the overall activities of the garment industry. In particular, BGMEA has requested the leaders of the IBC-affiliated labor federations to provide cooperation so that the labor brothers and sisters do not take up programs like road blockades due to illegal demands or trivial incidents or in the name of demanding demands. BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan informed the leaders of the labor federations about the current board initiatives taken by BGMEA for the labor brothers and sisters of the garment industry. These initiatives include setting up regional grievance redressal cells in Gazipur, Ashulia and Savar, building hospitals for workers in garment-dominated areas and introducing food rationing for them. He requested the IBC-affiliated labor federations to provide cooperation with specific proposals/opinions for the proper implementation of these initiatives. The leaders of the labor federations welcomed these initiatives of BGMEA and said that they will send proposals from their respective organizations very soon.
The BGMEA President further said that in order to immediately resolve the issues of the workers within the factories, BGMEA is taking initiatives to make the mid-level management skilled through training.
The leaders of the labor federations agreed with this and expressed the opinion that it is important to follow-up and monitor these after providing training. In the meeting, both sides pledged to work together to maintain a fair and stable labor environment in the garment industry.
The discussion on behalf of the IBC-affiliated labor federations was attended by ZM Kamrul Anam, President, Bangladesh National Trade Union Federation (BNTUF); Mr. Amirul Haque Amin, President, National Garments Workers Federation; Rashedul Alam Raju, General Secretary, Bangladesh Mukta Garments Workers Union Federation; Nurul Islam, General Secretary, United Federation of Garments Workers; Mir Abul Kalam Azad, General Secretary, Swadhin Bangla Garments Workers Federation;
Shahidullah Badal, President, Bangladesh Metal, Chemical, Garments and Tailors Workers Federation; Ruhul Amin, President, Bangladesh Garments Workers Solidarity Federation; Salauddin Swapan, President, Bangladesh Biplobi Garments Workers Federation; Mr. Kamrul Hasan, General Secretary, Ekta Garments Workers Federation; China Rahman, General Secretary, Federation of Garment Workers; Md. Shahadat Hossain, General Secretary, Garment Tailors Workers League; Najma Akhtar, President, Sammilit Garments Workers Federation; Babul Akhtar, General Secretary, Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation.
