Most.

Zannatul Nayem

ID No: 3-19-41-065
Trade Union Movement in Bangladesh
Special focus on Export Processing Zone
 Introduction
Trade union is the key concepts of industrial relations. Trade union
movement has historically important in Bangladesh. The
movement or violation of employees in EPZ is primarily a
movement of the rights of young generation particularly young
women. In Bangladesh recently many violation occurs in EPZ areas
basically on the garments sectors.
 Background
In Indian – Subcontinent this type movement started in 1860s by Dinbandhu Mitra about the
condition of nil cultivation workers. He also wrote a drama title ‘Nil Darpan’. This drama is the
best example of labor movement. After that in 1875 Sarobji Shapuri started another labor
movement in Bombay and that was noticeable by the Secretary of State for India. As a result
enacted first Factory Act 1881.
In the era of Pakistan, East Pakistan formed- East Pakistan Federation of labor, Mazdoor
Federation and communist led Purbo Pakistan Sramik Federation. In that time jute mill
workers movement organized by Chotkal Sramit Federation.
Trade union played vital role in March 1971 against civil disobedience movement and that
order executed from Bangobandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
After that Jute, Textile, Sugar, EPZ, all financial institutions and big industries were
nationalized in Bangladesh. Trade union gradually build up in Bangladesh. For personal profit
many self- seeker join Trade Union. In 1972 Bangladesh adopted Industrial Relation Ordinance
1969.
Limitation on the function of
Trade Union
After liberation the workers of Bangladesh feels freedom in their workplace.
They started to get equal trade union rights. Most of the trade union enjoyed
facilities under ruling parties. Trade union is the great power among factories,
mills and organization. Main limitation on flourishing trade union is the illegal
local power. Local manifold capture market by firstly buy goods in mill rate and
then sell in market at a high rate. Supply raw materials at factories in high rate
and lastly involving own people for controlling the markets.
Reasons for arising Trade Union
Movement
After 1975 economic policy of Bangladesh turn a new leaf and started privatization in Bangladesh. The present Awami League government make this
privatization as a new form. As a result some industries running as a new form and large number of industries are not running. Workforce in these
factories catastrophically reduced. For this reason big industry like jute and garments in where trade union traditionally strong than gradually got
weaken due to loss career if its employees.
For protecting career and trade union rights they started for getting united and established Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP) in 1983.
After that launched special programed for demanding –
Job Security
High Salary
Rights of the trade unions
Others
In 1984 SKOP and government came in agreement of democratic labor legislation and recommended a new salary structure. But it was a great regret
that it was implemented in public sector. In the case of job security no steps was taken. This agreement could not see the face of success.
Export Processing Zone (EPZ)
Generally EPZ is called industrial state. It looks over the all features that happens in industrial
sectors. According to World Bank “an export processing zone as an industrial estate, usually a
fenced- in area of 10 to 300 hectares that is specialized in manufacturing for export. It offers
firms free trade conditions and a liberal regulatory environment.”
So main features of EPZ are:
# Industrial areas with special incentives.
# with in a country small and geographically separated areas.
# It situated near in international port and airport.
# Main goals for production is exporting.
Trade Union activities in Export
Processing Zone (EPZ)
Garments industries have started to flourish from the beginning of 80 th. Almost 80% workers
are female and nearby 15 lakhs employment directly or indirectly involve in garments
industries. The huge number of employee are not organized in trade union. Ministry of labor
are silence and government are not permitted trade union activities in EPZ. Now USA and ILO
create pressure to Bangladesh for starting trade union activities in EPZ. As a result industries
in EPZ get the following facilities –
Duty - free imports of raw materials
Excise duty have not pay on local goods
Enjoy tax holiday
Other facilities
This idea largely helpful for the importer for facing conducive competition in export markets.
As a result-
Eligible to attracts foreign investors
Increase employment
Problems for generating trade
union in EPZ
In actually found lots of gap in attracting activities of foreigners. Problems raise on-
Generating local employment
Have no available access of import free raw materials
Establishment of technological transfer have long far
No careful attention on excise duty
But in reality question raise on how much foreigner actually attracts? How much local employment is being generate? How much technological transfer have taken place in actually? On the other
hand all EPZ offer-
Remarkable amount of land
Available power supply
Give all infrastructure facilities
Although all facilities given in all EPZ but why trade union practice banned here. The government also practice all rules of human rights in Bangladesh. Moreover why foreigners faces disturbance in
working place. Foreign investors also demanding the following criteria.
Congenial atmosphere
Infrastructure for example banking
Best communication facilities
Security
The Structure of Trade Union
According to the Industrial Relations Ordinance 1969 permits trade union who are organize
and intend to create trade union. Trade Union in Bangladesh are categories into three sectors.
Such as:
Basic trade union:
Here involve the activities of the primary organization who directly involve to the workforce.
Trade federation:
Consists of the number of trade union who’s related to industries. For example: garments
worker federation, textile worker federation and jute worker federation etc.
 
National trade union:
This federation involve the basic union that irrelative to job sectors. It compose with two or
more basic trade unions. Such as: Railway Karigar Union, Biman Cabin Crew Union etc.
 
Those who are employee or workers can be elected to the committee of basic trade union. Only
  
Demanding factors for launching trade union in
EPZ
The whole world recognize the rights of the EPZ workers for practicing rules and practice of
trade union. Bangladeshi workers want trade union practice in EPZ areas for
Anti-discrimination practice
Dismissal suspension
Protect transfer
Remove blacklisting
Remove harassment, physical abuse and intimidation etc.
 
Registration of Trade Union
Great news is that Bangladesh started to practice of trade union culture. It launched with some procedures
and requirement. Applicants firstly apply to the Joint Director of Labor and Register for trade unions.
The executive committee of trade unions consists of 5 to 30 people depending on the membership of trade
union where 5000 more people gets its membership. Applicants firstly submit the application form for
getting membership after that join on particular trade union. This happens on National Union like banks,
railways etc.
It is a great regret that restriction given on nationalized sectors on the issue of salary, leave, house rent,
medical and festival allowances and provident funds etc. The Industrial Relations Ordinance 1969 will not
apply on certain EPZ.
List of Trade Union
Some famous Trade union are-
Jatiya Sramik Jote, Bangladesh
Jatiya Sromik Forum
National Trade Union Federation
National Workers Federation
Bangladesh Workers Federation
 Trade Union Responses in
Bangladesh EPZ
EPZ is the vital sector for the economy of Bangladesh. It raise many significant questions and
challenges to trade union. Government policy on trade union in EPZ should be divided in two
category. Such as:
Involving government to the developing policy of EPZs.
Organizing the workers of the EPZs.
Government should build up own policy of trade union in EPZ for removing the movement or
raising questions of industrial development, cost-benefit of foreign direct investment (FDI),
improvement of domestic economy and increase the technological transfer.
EPZ is the best way for creating sustainable national industrial strategy. Organizing EPZ is the
critical challenges that faced by the trade union. For organizing employee in this zone
mandatorily need persistence and creativity.
Challenges of Trade Union in
Bangladesh EPZ
Organizing workers in this zone is the major challenges. Trade Union in Bangladesh faces
numerous obstacle for organizing workers in EPZ. Such as:
Decent work deficits
Difficulties in law and practices
Collective bargaining
Gender discrimination
Female workers
 
 Conclusion
Every day huge number of young people join in workplace. These young people
denied to organize of their rights, their workplace are high-tempo and face
difficulties to work in bad environment. Even more and more countries
established more and more EPZ. Bangladesh government under the EPZ create
many job opportunities and try to establish strong trade union for removing
movement. It is the time for implementing new innovative strategy rather than
traditional ones