Following the severe labour unrest in the country's premier export-earning garment sector, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday by the government, garment owners and workers' leaders to ensure labour rights and peaceful atmosphere in the factories.
Meanwhile, a number of garment factories witnessed labour unrest yesterday on the question of salary hike although the 24-hour strike called by workers at the factories was withdrawn at the last moment.
Workers in many factories either did not join their duties or left the factory after signing the attendance register, sources said.
The ten-point MoU endorsed the wage board formed on May 31 that will declare the minimum wage for workers within three months of its formation. The other terms of the agreement would be implemented within one month.
The MoU committed not to terminate any workers for involvement in the recent agitation and all cases filed against them will be withdrawn.
The workers will be given appointment letters, identity cards immediately. The owners also agreed not to create any hindrance to formation of trade union in any factory.
All the factories will be opened for bringing normalcy in the premier export-earning sector.
The MoU was signed after a series of discussions on May 24, June 1 and June 4 among the stakeholders in the garment sector.
The government also formed 15 inspection teams for monitoring workers' condition in the factories. Ten teams will work in Dhaka and five in Chittagong. A team will visit 15-20 factories in a week and submit weekly reports to the labour ministry, sources said.
The representatives from the government, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and trade union leaders singed the MoU following a final round of discussion with the State Minister for Labour and Employment Aman Ullah Aman at his ministry.
"The agreement was signed to give a permanent shape to the understandings on various issues reached during the previous discussions," BGMEA President Tipu Munshi said last night.
State Minister for Employment Aman ullah Aman signed the MOU on behalf of the government while BGMEA President Tipu Munhsi, BKMEA President Fazlul Hoque, former BGMEA president Annisul Huq and four other BGMEA directors signed from owners side.
Seventeen workers' leaders including Roy Romesh Chandra, Zafrul Hasan, Nurul Islam, Shafiqur Rahman Majumder, Dr Wazedul Islam signed the agreement on behalf of the workers.
Representatives from other 39 labour organisations were present during the signing of MoU.
As per the agreement, garment workers will get one day weekly holiday and enjoy the other government holidays according to the existing labour laws.
The female workers will also get maternity leave with regular salary. The workers will get overtime if they work more than eight hours a day, according to the MoU.
The labour leaders said all their demands except the minimum wage have been fulfilled by the MoU.
The wage board will hopefully submit its report before the end of the present government's tenure, government officials said.
The MoU signing meeting presided over by State Minister for Labour and Employment Aman Ullah Aman regretted the loss of property during the labour unrest since May21 and reached a consensus on immediate end to the unrest.
The garment owners also committed to implement the agreement in all the factories as soon as possible.
The government is very sincere in protecting the interest of all the parties involved in the garment industries, the minister said, expressing optimism that all the parties will implement the MoU.
