Appendix/Problems of Bangladesh Garments Sector and their Solution

The workers engaged in the garments sector have been arranged in 7 classes and other employees in 4 categories by the Wage Board in their Wage Structure 2010.

Of the 4 categories of employees the MLSS id est. the 4^th grade employees will get Taka 3,280 each per month. This 4^th grade of employees include – Peons of the Garment Factories, Guards, Cooks, Sweepers, Junior Data Entry Operators, Floor Helpers, Loader Guards, Messengers, Tea Boys, Cleaners, Drivers etcetera.

Categories of Working Class by Designations

Class	Categories of Working Class	Wage in Taka    per  Month
Grade 1	Pattern master, Chief quality controller, Chief cutting master, Chief mechanic, Chief electrician, Collar master and Graphic designer	9,300
Grade 2	Mechanic, Cutting master, Asst. Pattern master, Asst. Collar master, Asst. Graphic designer	7,200
Grade 3	Special machinist, Senior swing machine operator, Senior winding machine operator, Senior knitting machine operators, Senior linking machine operator, Senior cutter, Senior quality inspector, Senior marker, Senior line leader, Senior over lock machine operator, Senior kwacha machine operator, Lay man, Senior auto cutter, Senior marker etcetera.	4,120
Grade 4	Swing machine operator, Winding machine operator, Knitting machine operator, Linking machine operator, Dry man, Packer, Over lock machine operator, Line leader, Auto cutter, Cad operator, Lay man, Bundling man, Rib cutter, Tag man, Printer, Quality operator etcetera.	3,763
Grade 5	Junior swing machine operator, Junior winding machine operator, Junior knitting machine operator, Junior linking machine operator, Junior dry man, Junior packer, Junior over lock machine operator, Junior line leader, Junior auto cutter, Junior cad operator, Junior bundling man, Junior lay man, Junior rib cutter, Junior tag man etcetera.	3,455
Grade 6	Ordinary swing machine operator, Ordinary winding machine operator, Ordinary printing machine operator, Ordinary linking machine operator, Ordinary auto cutter etcetera.	3,210
Grade 7	Asst. Swing machine operator, Asst. Winding machine operator, Asst. Knitting machine operator, Asst. Madding operator, Asst. Cutter, Marker, Creasing man, Line iron man, Dry washing man, Over lock machine assistant, Button machine assistant, Kwacha machine assistant, Finishing assistant, Asst. Bundling man, Asst. Fusing machine operator, Asst. Auto spreader, Lay man, Embroidery operator, Printing operator, Printer, Helper etcetera.	3,000
------	Apprentice	2,500

Source: The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No.216, 1 August 2010. P. 13.

NOTES AND REFERENCES

Notes

[Translated Qur’ânic verses are from ‘The Meaning of the Glorious Koran’ by Mohammad Marmaduke Pickthal, 12^th Printing, Published by the New American Library, New York and Toronto, modified by the author of this article, wherever necessary, following Al-Qur’ânul Karim, the Bengali version of Al Qur’ân including the original Text, published by the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Dhaka 1999. The Qur’ânic verse numbers are those of the original text. The translations, wherever made from Bengali, are the act of this author].

References

01.           Alam, A. Z. M. Shamsul, Islami Arthanitir Ruprekha (An Outline of Islamic Economy), written in Bengali and published by Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Dhaka 2003.

02.           Badal, Habibur Rahman from Narayanganj, “Garment Sector Dhangsher Cheshta, Nepothya 6 Karon” (Attempts to Destroy the Garments Sector, 6 Causes Behind,” The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No.217, 2 August 2010.

03.           Chaudury, M.R, “Ashche Industrial Police” (Industrial Police is coming), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No.230, 15 August 2010. Economics Supplement.

04.           Dainandin Zibane Islam (Islam in Daily Life), Published by Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Dhaka 2000.

05.           Dey, Samir Kumar, “Uskanidata 48 Sramik Neta, Grefter 2” (48 Instigating Labour Leaders, 2 Arrested), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No.216, 1 August 2010.

06.           Dilal, Saif Islam, “Antarjatic Shorajantro?” (International Conspiracy?), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No.196, 11 July 2010, Economics Supplement.

07.           Hasan, Mehedi, “Bishwa Bazare Toiri Poshaker Mullya32 Shotangsho Komechhe” (Apparel price has fallen by 32 per cent in the World market), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No.211, 26 July 2010.

08.           Hyder, Monir, “Garmentse Ashoni Songket” (Foreboding of a thunder-crash in the Garments Sector), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No. 139, 15 May 2010.

09.           Jugantar, 11^th Year, No.169, 23 July 2010, “Garment Sramikder Mojori Nirdharon Sombar” (Wage for the Garments Workers will be ascertained on Monday).

10.           Karim, Enayet, “Roptani Lakhamatra Arjone Dorkar Nirobossinna Biddoth O Gas” (Uninterrupted supply of Electricity and Gas is necessary for attaining Export Targets), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No. 243, 28 August 2010, Economics Supplement.

11.           Khan, Tuhin, “Ashanto Savar-Ashulia Shilpanchol” (Restless Savar- Ashulia Industrial Area), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No. 209, 24 July 2010.

12.           Khayer, Abul, “Sramik Ashontoshe Indhan: Ak Engior Nibondhan Batil” (Instigating Workers’ Discontent: Cancellation of the Registration of one NGO), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No. 213, 29 July 2010.

13.           Lewis, W. Arthur, Economic Development with Unlimited Supplies of Labour, The Manchester School, May 1954, included in Agarwala, A.N. and S. P. Sing edited, The Economics of Underdevelopment, A Galaxy Book, New York, Oxford University Press, 1963.

14.           Marx, Karl and Frederick Engels, Selected Works, Vol. 1, Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow 1962. 

15.           Rahman, Syeed Mizanur, “Songkot- Sambhabonar Poshak Khat” (Garments Sector of Crisis and Prospect), The Daity Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No. 196, 11 July 2010, Economics Supplement.

16.           ______________, “Mojuri Barlo Poshak Sramikder” (The Wage of Garments Workers has increased),The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No.216, 1 August 2010, Economics Supplement.   

17.           Royel, Shafiqur Rahman, “Obey Jacche Chiner Shosta Srom” (The Cheap labour of China is vanishing), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No.231, 16 August 2010, News Item Following ‘The Economist’.

18.           Selim, Muzahidul Islam, “Garments-a 5 Hazar Taka Nunotomo Mojuri Keno Chai” (Why Taka 5 thousand is necessary as minimum Wage in the Garments Industry), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No.207, 22 July 2010.

19.           _______________, “‘Bandi-Shibir’–er Kayedaye Garment Shilpo Chalbe Ki”, (Will the Garments Industry be run under the techniques of ‘Captive Camp’?), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, Nos.227- 228, 12-13 August 2010.  

20.           Sipu, Jamiul Ahsan, “Garment Shilpe Ashontosh-e Jader Beboshar Puji” (About those whose capital is discontent in the Garments Sector), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No. 220, 5 August 2010.

21.           Sayeed, Rumi, “Saudi Arab Bangladesher Poshak Roptanir Udioman Bazar” (Saudi Arabia is a Rising Market for the Export of Bangladeshi Apparels), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No.237, 22 August 2010, Economics Supplement.

22.           The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No.160, 5 June 2010. Ittefaq Report on Economics: “Mojuri Baray Chin Theke Biniog Sorche, Sosta Sramer Karone Bishal Sombhabonaey Bangladesh” (Investment is moving away from China as wage increased, Huge prospect in front of Bangladesh because of cheap Labour), Economics Supplement.

23.           The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No. 209, 24 July 2010, “Mirpure Garment Sramiker Mrittu, Songharsha Vangchur” (The Death of a Garments Worker in Mirpur, Clashes and Destructions).

24.           The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No. 212, 27 July 2010, “Savare Sramic-Police Songharsha, Shatadhic Ahato, Garments Bondha” (Workers-Police Clash in Savar, More than Hundred injured, Garments Closed).

25.           The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No. 216, 1 August 2010, News Item sub-captioned: “Sramikder Rationer Jonno Sarkar Bhartuki Debe” (The government will give subsidy to rationing for the workers).

26.           The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No. 218, 3 August 2010, “Sramik Sanghaton Golor Tripokhio Siddhanto Prothakkhan” (Rejection of the Three Party decision by the Workers’ Organizations”, News Item,

27.           The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No. 223, 8 August 2010, “Bishobazare Bangladesh” (Bangladesh in the World Market), An Analytical Economic Report, Economics Supplement.

28.           Uddin, Jamal, “Ora Sramik, Koste Kate Din” (They are Workers, Days are past in Hardships), The Daily Ittefaq, 58^th Year, No. 206, 21 July 2010.

29.           Wasif, Faruq, “Poshaksramik” (Garments Workers), Prothom Alo, 12^th Year, No. 251, 19 July 2010.