As production in two garment factories in Dhaka has been suspended temporarily after Accord found structural hazards in the building, a number of around 6,000 workers fear loss of their jobs.
Softex Cotton Ltd and Fame KnitWears Ltd were asked to stop working in the “weak and flawed” building early this month.
They were of 10 factories inspected by the Accord experts on a pilot project.
The owners of the two factories said they might no longer resume production in the building which Accord-designated hazardous.
When told about the workers’ fear, the employers, while talking to the Dhaka Tribune, however assured that the workers would be taken back in their other factories.
The assurance would not satisfy workers until they saw it happen.
“We may be refused from getting back our jobs. The factory closure could be for permanent,” feared a worker.
“The owners have other factories. If the ones where we were working are closed permanently, they will have no problem,” she added explaining her fear.
But the employers said they would return jobs to the workers if they went to their other factories.
“The workers will be given back their jobs if they come to us,” said Rezwan Selim, managing director of Softex which employs about 3,500, mostly women.
Bangladesh Accord Foundation, a group of 150 clothing brands and retailers, plans to inspect 1,500 garment factories by early September.
According to the workers, they are going to the factories every morning hoping that the production is resumed.
“I have two children. My husband is a rickshaw puller. It is tough to feed a family with the pittances we earn,” said Ayesha, a worker, sitting at a makeshift tea stall in a slum of Dhaka.
“We heard the factory is in a temporary shutdown for retrofitting the building. But the closure becomes permanent, I will have nowhere to go,” she expressed her fear.
The workers are now waiting for wages for the interim period which is likely to be three months.
“It won’t be good if the owners don’t pay us wage for three months on March 20,” said Shabuj, another worker.
On March 6, the Accord on Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety, an initiative of European retailers, asked the factories to suspend production as the building was inspected flawed.
“We are completely unable now to pay wages of three months to workers. We will request the Accord to make the payments. This is their liability,” said Softex MD Rezwan Selim.
According to him, Accord’s decision of production halt was not fair as “the building condition was not too bad to continue production.”
“At least they could give us one month time,” Rezwan vented his grievance.
“At around 10.30pm of March 6, Accord authorities called me and asked to evacuate the factory within March 10.”
“But, this was not an enough time for such a task. On March 8, I sent them a letter asking for some time,” said Rezwan.
Sources concerned said the building was approved for a four-storeyed structure but rose to seven storeys. Softex was housed in the unapproved floors. But Fame KnitWears was in the approved floors and so it can continue production after the Softex machineries are removed.
“Accord told me to continue production after Softex evacuation. I told my workers to come on March 22,” said Md Moshiul Azam Shajal, owner of Fame KnitWears and a director of BGMEA.
Fame owner however hinted that he might decide not to run the factory any longer in the present building and to shift to another place.
“As problems have been found with the building, it is better relocate. Problems may be found again even after retrofitting,” said Moshiul Azam Shajal.
Softex is going to find sub-contractors for supplying the already-taken orders, said manager Abul Hashem.
The 30-year old building designated as flawed is owned by the ruling party lawmaker Ilias Uddin Mollah.
He said the building would be retrofitted in a three-month time.
“The inspection team suggested strengthening of some columns. It can be done in three months,” said Mollah.
Md Shahidullah Azim, vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said if the workplace safety was ensured, the country’s garment sector image will return.
Accord steering committee member Roy Ramesh Chandra said the decision about the two factories was taken for the welfare of both owners and workers.
The workers of Softex Cotton Ltd and Fame KnitWears Ltd demanded wages for the time of suspension.
The owners asked them to wait until March 20 (tomorrow) for the wages.
Source: UNBConnect