Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expresses deep concern over the labor unrest and the consequent unfortunate events that happened at Tongi due to the sudden closure of Nippon Garments. We appreciate the government for its decision to initiate trade union in the garments industry. We, however, would request the government not to hand out blames but to find out a solution and to take effective measures by thoroughly analyzing the problems of this sector.

From newspaper reports, it seems that the agitation among the workers grew when the garments authority sidestepped all rules and regulations regarding the announcement of “Lay-off” and just closed down Nippon garments. The situation worsened when the law enforcement agencies applied force instead of engaging in peaceful negotiation. Three people were killed by police shooting. Many police personnel have also been wounded. The locals are now living in fear of being detained as the police have filed cases against several thousand unidentified people.

We have seen in the past that the garments owner’s failure to follow the rules and regulations including non-payment of wages raises anxiety among the laborers about their livelihood. As a result they become agitated demanding the fulfillment of their basic needs. The law enforcement agencies and the government, instead of looking for a logical solution, take the policy of repressing the situation through force and intimidation. This kind of engagement allows the owners to sidestep their responsibility towards their workers by claiming that the unrest is nothing but “a conspiracy to sabotage the country’s economy”. This leaves the genuine complaints of the workers ignored and their demands unfulfilled and hence their agitation grows. This kind of approach does not prove to be helpful in the safeguard and development of our textile industry in anyway. So the government should go for a thorough-going analysis of this problem and must take prudent steps to protect this important economic sector of our country.