Subsidised essentials for RMG workers

The trade bodies for woven and knitwear, two sub-sectors of the readymade garments (RMG) sector, announced yesterday the launch of its rationing programmes to reach out some essential commodities to workers countrywide at a subsidised rate from today.
At a press conference in Dhaka, Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, the president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said the rationing programme would continue through the month of Ramadan.
An announcement of a salary hike from the government is likely to come in a few days, according to industry insiders.
Fazlul Hoque, the president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), told The Daily Star that his organisation would also start distributing essentials among workers this morning.
According to the BGMEA plan, essential commodities will be sold at nine spots in and around Dhaka and two spots in Chittagong.
"Under the package, workers can purchase essentials once a week showing their identity cards," Parvez told reporters.
Each worker will be allowed to buy 3kgs and 700 grams of rice at Tk 100, 500 grams of red lentil at Tk 40 and 400 grams of gram at Tk 20.
The BGMEA-selected spots in the capital and outside are Malibagh Healthcare Centre, Postagola Healthcare Centre, Mirpur Healthcare Centre, Mohammadpur Healthcare Centre, Gulshan Healthcare Centre, Uttara Healthcare Centre, Narayanganj Healthcare Centre, Dilon Tower (Gazipur Chowrasta) and Konabari Healthcare Centre.
On the recent attacks on garment factories, the BGMEA chief said the government's lax enforcement of law and order has been invoking frequent labour unrest in the largest export-earning sector.
"The government even did not issue a press release on frequent labour unrest in the factories where the owners are paying workers the minimum wage," Parvez said.
The BKMEA has selected five spots in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Savar for implementing its rationing plan. Knitwear workers will get the essentials in a quantity and price similar to those offered by the BGMEA.
BKMEA started selling essentials to workers at a subsidised rate last year and continued it through the month of Ramadan.
Earlier, both BGMEA and BKMEA reached a consensus and submitted a proposal to Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman on Sunday to raise workers' salary.
"The government may make an announcement of such a hike within the shortest possible time, as almost all procedures have already been completed," the BKMEA chief said.
However, both the leaders of the trade bodies declined to comment on the percentage of salary hike.
They said the rationing programme is not related to the fresh salary hike.