Solving labour disputes though participation committees
- BTT News Desk
For a few years now workers unrest has been counted as a major threat to the success of Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry (RMG). According to the Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies, 72 instances of labor unrest took place between January 1 and June 30, 2010. The major causes were demands for dues payment, declaration of factory lay-offs, closures, termination or curtailment of leave or holidays.
A study conducted by PROGRESS in July-August 2010 showed that in most cases unrest in the RMG sector could have been avoided if an effective channel of communication to solve grievances had been in place. Therefore, in the absence of collective bargaining (trade union), a Participation Committee can play a vital role in bridging the communication gap and can even successfully ease labour disputes.
According to Bangladesh’s Labor Act of 2006, section 205 (1), each employer of an establishment in which fifty or more workers are employed is under a legal obligation to constitute a Participation Committee in the workplace. The committee essentially acts as a platform for social dialogue, and is comprised of the owners’ representatives and elected workers’ representatives. The number of owners’ representatives cannot exceed workers’ representatives. The PC’s functions are to: (i) promote mutual trust, understanding and co-operation; (ii) ensure application of labour laws; (iii) foster a sense of discipline and to improve and maintain safe and healthy working conditions; (iv) encourage vocational training, workers' education and family welfare training; (v) adopt measures to improve welfare services for the workers and their families; and (vi) meet production targets, improve productivity.
PROGRESS is keen to reduce labour disputes and therefore has taken a number of steps. Through partner NGOs, about 2,000 female workers were trained as leaders. Among them, around 300 workers have already proved their skills in negotiating their rights for themselves and their fellow workers in a peaceful manner. Currently, 47 trained workers are members of participation committees in 32 factories located in Dhaka and in Chittagong.
A study was conducted in 10 factories. Owners’ representatives and 27 PC members (trained by NGOs) were interviewed. Findings show that although the legal provision for electing workers’ representatives was not followed, regular meetings are being held and workers are raising their issues. Ms. Halima Khatun, PC member Babylon Garments Ltd. stated: “It is a great opportunity for us to discuss our grievances. We (PC members) are well accepted by the workers and they have confidence on us. I do believe if it is replicated to every factory, workers will never take hard path for their demands”. However, one of the bottlenecks, as reported by the respondents to the study is the lack of negotiation skills and labor law knowledge on the part of the workers’ representatives. Save for the trained few, none of the workers are capable of advocating for their legal rights.
To solve these problems, NGOs are offering training through qualified trainers to improve the capacity of the PC. Recently, the Awaj Foundation has conducted a two day training session in Viyellatex Ltd. for their PC members. As well as customized training sessions, a “Six day training program for workers” and a “Four day training program for the management” is also available.
Participation Committee Meeting (Courtesy, Viyellatex Ltd.)
For more information please contact:
Shatil Ara
Business Advisor
shatil.ara@gtz.de