Pointing to the readymade garment workers’ movement to raise salaries, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said that they might lose their jobs if any unrest is created in the sector now in this tough time when the purchasing power of the people is declining in the export markets of Bangladeshi clothes.
"If any kind of unrest is created following someone’s words, it will harm not only the country but also the workers. Everyone will have to keep it in mind. I think the matter should be informed to the workers and their leaders,” she said.
The premier was addressing a discussion through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganabhaban marking the historic Six-Point Day.
Awami League arranged the discussion at its central office in the city’s Bangabandhu Avenue, chaired by President Sheikh Hasina.
Sheikh Hasina also said: “The labour leaders will not face any trouble as they will get a good amount of money from instigators. But what will be the fate of workers? They will be affected by taking to the street.
“The government increased the salary of the apparel workers on several occasions. A worker now gets Tk8,000-Tk10,000 a month and other facilities, but the salary was only Tk1,600 in the past.”
Hasina mentioned that the government has been providing subsidies in different sectors. "It has given all sorts of incentives to the garment sector. It is not possible to provide more than that,” she added.
She mentioned that, as the government helped the factories preventing their closure for Covid-19, now they get work orders, their exports increase and they can import capital machinery.
The prime minister said if anyone now wages movement leading to the shutdown of the factories, the job would also be lost.
“If you don’t understand it, we’ve nothing to do here. Because how much more can we give to the private sector!” she observed.
“The purchasing power of the buyers in the importing countries is declining and it is worsening day by day,” she said, adding that the prices of goods soared in the USA, Europe and other places and the people are suffering there.
