Introduction:

Trade union is an organization of employees or workers who formally join together to promote,
protect, maintain and improve their social, economic, and political power of its members. Trade
union plays a very important in garment industry in any part of the world especially in countries
like Bangladesh. The pay structure of the employees of Bangladesh garment industry is very low
and the work condition is also so poor. Trade union works for employees and ensure that the
employees are treated well and working under good working condition. Trade union also works
to fight for the employees right.










Trade Unions in Bangladesh:

Trade union is an organization of employees or workers who formally join together to promote,
protect, maintain and improve their social, economic, and political power of its members.






Some characteristics of a trade union are mentioned bellow-
Trade union is an association.
Association either of employees or employers or independent workers.
It is relatively permanent combination of workers.
It is association of workers engaged in securing economic benefits for its workers.
The character of trade unions has been constantly changing.
Its origin and growth has been influenced by a number of ideologies

From the above characteristics we may define a trade union:-Trade union is an association which
include employers or independent workers who are relatively permanent and work to secure
economic benefit of workers and origin and growth influenced by the some ideologies.
Employment in growth sectors used to be a source of workers' empowerment through trade
unionism. Unions are generally highly politicized, and unions were strongest in state-owned
enterprises. Civil service and security force employees were forbidden to join unions because of
their highly political character. Teachers in both the public and private sector were not allowed to
form trade unions. The history of the trade union movement in Bangladesh is linked with the
development of a modern industrial society in the sub-continent beginning from 1850. In the
Indo-Pak subcontinent the first labour organization was the All India Trade Union Congress.
After the independence of Pakistan, East Pakistan Trade union federation was formed on 28th
September 1947. In 1959, Pakistan federation of labour was formed; it was the only central
labour organization in the whole of Pakistan. After declaring the Industrial Relations Ordinance -
1969, freedom was given to labour to form any trade union in any commercial or industrial
establishments. Industrial Relations Ordinance, 1969 provides that any worker or employer has
the right to form a union without previous authorization. But such a union cannot function as a
trade union without being registered under the law. After liberation of the country in 1971, the
Government of Bangladesh nationalised the major industries and services including banks and
insurance companies. The working class of Bangladesh, with higher hopes and aspirations,
demanded higher wages and fringe benefits. It is interesting to note that after liberation, the
government-affiliated trade unions always dominated the trade union scene. Industrial Relations
Ordinance, 1969 deals with trade unions in Bangladesh. In any industrial and commercial
establishment, a trade union may be formed with 30% of the total number of workers employed.
If there is more than one union in any establishment, CBA is determined by the Registrar of the
Trade Union through secret ballot for a term of two years. Only the CBA is authorized to raise
industrial disputes and negotiate with the management. The Director of Labour of the
government acts as the Registrar of Trade Union in Bangladesh. In 1972, the number of
registered trade unions in the country was 2523, with membership of 682,923 workers. Till
December 2004, 6492 trade unions (worker's union - 5242 and employers' association- 1250)
exist in Bangladesh having 2,094,887 members. This clearly shows the rate of multiplicity of
trade unions in Bangladesh.
RMG sector in Bangladesh:

The economy of Bangladesh is largely dependent on agriculture. However, in recent years, the Ready
Made Garments (RMG) sector has emerged as the biggest earner of foreign currency. The RMG sector
has experienced an exponential growth since the 1980s. The sector contributes significantly to the GDP.
It also provides employment to around 4.2 million Bangladeshis. An overwhelming number of workers in
this sector are women. This has affected the social status of many women coming from low income
families.
For Bangladesh, the readymade garment export industry has been the proverbial goose that lays
the golden eggs for over fifteen years now. The sector now dominates the modern
economy in export earnings, secondary impact and employment generated. The events in1998
serve to highlight the vulnerability of this industry to both internal and external
shocks on the demand and supply side. Given the dominance of the sector in the overall modern
economy of Bangladesh, this vulnerability should be a matter of some concern to the
policymakers in Bangladesh. Although in gross terms the sectors contributions to the countrys
export earnings is around 74 percent, in net terms the share would be much less par t i al l y
becaus e t he backwar d l i nkages i n t ext i l e have been s l ow t o devel op. The
dependence on a single sector, no matter how resilient or sturdy that sector is, is a matter
of policy concern. We believe the policymakers in Bangladesh should work to
reduce this dependence by moving quickly to develop the other export industries
using the lessons learned from the success of apparel exports. Support for the apparel sector
should not be reduced. In fact, another way to reduce the vulnerability is to diversify the product
and the market mix. It is heartening to observe that the knit products are rapidly gaining share in
overall garment exports as these products are sold in quota-free markets and reflect
the strength of Bangladeshi producers in the fully competitive global apparel markets.
Preliminary data and informal evidence indicate that this sector seems to have weathered the
devastating floods relatively well. The industry is one hundred percent export-oriented and
therefore insulated from domestic demand shocks; however, it remains vulnerable to domestic
supply shocks and the smooth functioning of the banking, transportation and other
forward and backward linkage sectors of the economy. The Dhaka-Chittagong road remains the
main transportation link connecting the production units, mostly situated in and around Dhaka
and the port in Chittagong, where the raw material and the finished products are shipped in and
out. Despite increased dependence on air transportation, trucks remain the main vehicles for
transporting raw materials and finished products for Bangladesh garment exports. The
floods disrupted the normal flow of traffic on this road. Eventually, this road link was completely
severed for several days when large sections of the road went under water for a few weeks
during the latter phase of the floods. This delinking of the road connection between Dhaka
and the port in Chittagong was as serious threat as one can imagine for the garment exporters.
The industry responded by calling upon the Bangladesh navy to help with trawlers and renting a
plane from Thai Air that was used to directly fly garment consignments from the Dhaka airport
to the Chittagong airport several times a day.



Historical background of trade union:

At First, the trade union was established in United Kingdom. The activities of trade union were
found in United Kingdom. From the beginning of 19th century, movement of trade union was
found in many countries in the world. But they had no unity like present time. After the historical
revolution, the trade union commotion has gotten popularly. Huge number of industry was
established in the world that time. As a result, owner and labors were increased. They were
divided into two groups, one is owner group and another is labor group. Labor group tried hard
and soul for establishing their rights. As a result, law was passed in many countries in favor of
trade union. In 1836 the trade union commotion was found in Brussels.

Formation and Registration of trade union in Bangladesh:

According to INDUSTRIAL ORDINANCE of 1969, trade union is bound to register. To apply
for registration, require some papers with information. These are mentioned bellow-

1) Application for registration: To submit any application for registration of trade union require
one application with signature of president and secretary of that trade union.
2) Required conditions for application: Every application has to submit to the register for
registration of trade union and bellows information will be included with application.

a) Name of the trade union and address.
b) Date of formation of trade union.
c) Name, age, address, occupation of the officials.
d) Description of all salary payee employees.
e) Name of the branch, union and their registration number in case of federation.

3) General conditions for registration of trade union: If, when the trade union is formed and
bellows information are not included in the constitution than the trade union will not capable to
register.

a) Name of trade union and address.
b) Objectives of trade union.
c) Conditions for using general fund of the trade union.
d) Name of the convener committee and their method of election.
e) List of the members.
f) Constitution of trade union and the procedure of correction and the procedure to cancel.
g) Procedure to be member of trade union.

4) Registration: After getting all papers of pre conditions, the register can include as registry in
certain registration paper and within 60 days register provide registration certificate. No trade
union action can be taken prior to registration.

Principles of trade union:

Every organization has some principles. On the basis of these principles workers, employees and
organization are conducted. On this way trade union has some principles which principles they
follows. These principles are describing bellow:

1.Unity is strength: The main principle of trade union is unity is strength. Without unity, workers
can not discuss about their problem with management which can solve the management of this
organization. Because management would not like to discuss with one worker without any group
of worker.

2. Equal pay for equal work or the same job: Every worker hope that he or she will get
reasonable salary or wages for his works at the same job. But sometime management does unfair
practice.The management does not pay equal wages for equal works.

3. Security of services: Employees feel insecure about their risky job in the factory. Only one
source of living is wages of workers. As a result, the worker fare loses the job. Only powerful
trade union can ensure permanent job security and safely work place by bargaining with
management.

Features of trade union in Bangladesh:

Bangladesh is an agricultural country and also developing country. So here worker are available
working in the various industry. As a result many trade unions are established. These trade
unions has some features, these are discussed bellow:

Leaders and members of the trade union are not well educated.
Trade union plays a great role in the movement of democracy.
Most of the trade unions are financially weak.
Maximum trade unions are interconnecting with political parties.
Effective, efficient, honest leaders are absent in trade union.
Leaders of trade unions are self oriented.
Discriminatory behavior is observed in the trade unions.

Why do workers join a trade union:

Workers join the trade union on the basis of this principles Unity is strength. And another
reason is describe bellow:

Getting proper wages: The main reason of joining the trade is gotten proper wages from the
management. As a result, they get economic security.

To restrain management: Sometimes the management takes action which is irrational, illogical,
discriminatory or prejudicial to the interests of labor. That time trade union takes initiative to
restrain management.

To secure end of the job: After ending the job, illness, accident, disability, unemployment and
old age to secure or protect their life by getting something from management
.
To communicate with management: To communicate their views, aims, ideas, feelings, and
frustrations to the management.

Recognition of work: Every worker want to get recognition of their work and these recognition
are promotion, economic facilities etc.

Establishment of cordial labor management relationship: By trade union worker can maintain
cordial relationship between worker and management. As a result, they can solve their problem
willingly.

Present condition of trade union in Bangladesh:

In Bangladesh trade union does not go forward for some difficulties. The environment which is
need for establishing an effective trade union is not available in Bangladesh for this bad labor
management relation system are liable. Better labor management relation system creates
discipline among the members. The effect and effort of trade union is very weak in our country.
The main cause behind weak trade union action in Bangladesh is bad labor and management
relation system. Management and labors stands against each other, if the labor management
relation goes wrong. In Bangladesh each and every trade union is established with the help of
political parties. Internal conflict is another problem of trade union. They have contradiction
among them. The trade union is divided into many groups. So, the trade union commotion is
failed. In Bangladesh one trade union stands against another one. This clash does a great obstacle
to the labor commotion. The labors who are engaged in trade union are not well educated. The
labors who are engaged in trade union are not efficient and effective. The trade union of
Bangladesh is financially very weak.
Workers join in a TRADE UNION to protect their ECONOMIC HAZARDS and other
problems, but todays trade union is deviated from their principles and involved into destructive
activities. So the government should take initiatives to stop the unethical and unlawful activities
of trade union.

How trade union objectives are achieved:

The organization of trade union on the basis of the expertise in an industry in which its
members are employed such as general unions and professional employees organizations.
Recognition of trade union is as the bargaining agent or representative union, which is entitled
to advocate the interest of its members.
Collective bargaining which is the essence of industrial relations.
Grievances processing and handling procedures are dealt with by correction of situation or by a
channeling.
Arbitration by which unsettled or unsolved disputes can be settled by an outside agency.
Political pressure exercised through legislators who are callable of bringing about changes in
labor laws.


Why most of the trade unions have not effectively participated:

Lack of awareness on their part of the importance of mutual insurance.
Employees looked upon by employers with hostility and distrust.
Suffer from class conflicts, divergent interests; inter union and intra union rivalries,
multiplicity, financial weakness, outside leadership, and ignorance of needs of the rank and file
of their members.
Lack of education, cultural backwardness and social and linguistic heterogeneity of their
membership.

From the above discussion we get that trade union is a voluntary association. They work or join
in the trade union for protect their life by getting security, economic development and well work
environment etc. But in present the trade union divert into establishing the power of political
patties. This is not main reason of establishing the trade union. As a result, trade union can not
achieve their ultimate goal. I think government should take initiative to protect or restrict their
activities of trade. I am not agreeing to stop the activities of trade union. If government stops
their activity then they can not achieve their rights. Without stopping their activities government
should take initiative. These are discussed bellow:

1. Need to create skilled leadership.
2. The leadership should come from the rank.
3. They should have clearly vocalized objectives and a coherent and well conceived.
4. It should be a solid foundation.
5. Organize training and education for the worker and leader of worker.
6. The government should influence the trade union by helping of industrial division of
Government.
7. Government should not take any trade union as associate organization of political parties.
8. Government should take initiative at which the outsider can not influence the trade union.
9. Drupe the false changes levied at labor right defenders for carrying out their legitimate.
10. Enter into genuine and constructive dialogue with union representative and labor rights
defenders to develop sound industrial relation.
11. Step all repression of workers, trade unions researchers, and workers right activities and
policies advocates


LABOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE TRADE UNIONS:
By the very Ordinance, freedom is also given to the labourers to form any federation of trade
union [10]. Trade unions or federation of trade unions can be formed in any premises or any
commercial or industrial establishments. The Registrar appointed under this ordinance may
declare any of the trade unions formed in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance, as the
CBA of that very establishment [11]. To declare a trade union as a CBA, the registrar is bound to
abide by the provisions of the Ordinance. The function of the CBA is to bargain with the
employers and with the government regarding labour interests and labour rights. So, it can be
said that the labour organization is recognized by the state.
Forced or compulsory labour may be as a means of political coercion or education, or as a
punishment for holding or expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the
established political, social or economic system, or by mobilising and using labour for the
purposes of economic development and as a means of racial, social, national or religious
discrimination. The labourers of Bangladesh enjoy full freedom to choose their own sector of
work, and they have the choice to be a member of any trade union, federation of trade unions or
to constitute a new trade union. Nobody can put pressure upon them to do a specific work in a
specific factory or establishment, or to be a member in a specific trade union. In choosing the
place of work and working sector, full freedom is the fundamental right of a worker in
Bangladesh. All forms of forced labor are prohibited and any contravention of this provision
shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law [12].
The laid-off workers have their rights for compensation [13]. Retrenched workers have their
rights of re-employment [14]. Every employer is responsible for the payment to the laborer
concerned [15]. To keep the health of the worker up to a proper standard and to ensure the
welfare of the workers the employers must comply with the provisions stated under the Factories
Act, 1965. Every worker has the right to a proper medical examination by a qualified medical
practitioner if he or she falls in an accident during working hours [16]. No worker is bound to
work more than the working hours prescribed under the different Acts existing in Bangladesh.
Overtime allowance must be at the rate of twice of the ordinary rate of wages [17]. Every worker
is entitled to weekly holidays, festival holidays, annual leave, casual leave, and sick leave with
full wages under the different Acts and Ordinances existing in Bangladesh regarding labor.
Apparently it seems that laborers in Bangladesh enjoy full freedom in choosing their own work
and own organization. They are provided with all kinds of rights by the employers and states.
But the real phenomenon is quite different.
Every citizen shall have the right to form associations or unions [18]. Obtaining these
opportunities employers and other elite forces formed so called trade union and other labor
organizations under the shadow of political authorities. They use the weaker worker class at their
political interest. A poor and weaker worker who is hand to mouth is not capable of forming any
trade union; and cannot express his/her own opinion regarding labor politics and different labour
industrial issues. So freedom of association is meaningless to a worker in Bangladesh as there is
a major lack of existing labor-industrial laws in Bangladesh. A worker may be dismissed without
prior notice or pay in lieu thereof, if he or she is found guilty of misconduct [19]. Without giving
prior notice, dismissal only on the grounds of misconduct is a violation of natural justice.
A residual power is always vested upon the government in almost every section of the existing
labour industry related Acts and ordinances in Bangladesh, by which the government can do
whatever it likes. At present most of the employers of factories and other establishments are
somehow part and parcel of the government directly or indirectly. So, the existing labour-
industrial laws are in favour of the employers and not in favour of the workers.

Advantage of trade union in garment industry:

a) To improve the economic lot of employees by securing for them better wages.
b) To secure better working conditions for the workers.
c) To secure bonus for the employees from the profit of the concern,
d) To resist schemes of the management which reduce employment, e.g., rationalization and
automation?
e) To secure welfare of employees through group schemes which give benefit to every employee.
f) To protect the interests of employees by taking active participation in the management.
g) To secure social welfare of the employees.
h) To secure organizational stability, growth, and leadership.












Problems for not including trade union in RMG sector(EPZ)

Its no great achievement for employers in the EPZs to describe their companies as better in
comparison to firms operating outside the zones. Yes, life for workers is generally better in the
EPZs comparedto conditions elsewhere because many companies outside the zones force their
employees to work in dangerous, medieval conditions that lead to many accidents, a situation
resulting from a virtually universal violation of Bangladeshi labor legislation. The same is true
regarding wages. Wages in the Dada factory in Savar are 45 per cent higher than wages in our
other factory outside the EPZ, explains Mr M. Masud, Dadas manager. The average wage
here is between $50 and 60 a month for six days work out of seven. However, Bangladeshs
labour force is one of the cheapest in the world, and pay -even in the EPZs - is very low. Given
the absence of trade unions in the EPZs, it is difficult to obtain reliable information on the abuse
workers suffer. According to the most recent annual report produced by the ICFTU and several
Bangladeshi non-governmental organizations, the number of cases of sexual exploitation of
female workers remains high. The ICFTU also laments unsafe working practices and the high
number of cases where overtime work is not paid. According to the ICFTU and the ITGLWF,
these abuses will only bereduced if independent trade unions are rapidly formed in Bangladeshs
EPZs.




























Conclusion:

Trade union is a organization of workers that fights for achieving employees rights. In countries
like Bangladesh it has a great role where employees are not treated well and dont get enough
wages or facilities. Trade union ensure that employees are having those things that are important
to work and live. But in Bangladesh trade union are influenced by political parties. Garment and
lather industries which are established in EPZ are taking this opportunity and banded trade union
which is not well for its employees. So for the sake of employees trade union must work for
employees rather than influenced by other party in a collective bargaining process.





































Recommendation:

Trade union is very important for the employees of the garment industry. But in countries like
Bangladesh its activities are not transparent. I think the following points are important to run the
activities of trade union effectively and transparently:
Government should have control over the union.
Trade union must work without any type of influence.
Decision must take in a collective bargaining process.
Illegal lock out and strikes must be prohibited by imposing strong rules.