The telephone helpline set up by the Government to address the grievances/issues of the workers, especially those engaged in the country’s readymade garment industry, is reportedly failing to evoke adequate response from the garment workers. The move led Sustainability Compact, an initiative adopted by the European Union, the United States, Canada and International Labour Organisation, recommend the Government to enhance the effectiveness of the telephone helpline to boost resolution of complaints.
The helpline is reportedly proving less than effective in addressing the moot purpose of resolving grievances related to workplace safety or worker rights as most of the workers are reportedly not even aware of this facility, which many blamed to lack of adequate publicity.
“While the helpline remains operational, it is important that the ability of relevant regulatory bodies to handle and resolve grievances is improved in order to build confidence in the helpline,” reportedly underlined the Sustainability Compact report that urged the Government to enhance its effectiveness.
As per Compact, of total 2,387 complaints, the relevant Government bodies resolved only 459.
“We are taking initiative for mass publicity. The department has a plan to publish poster and sticker on the helpline and those will be pasted to the walls of every factories and bodies of mass transports,” reportedly maintained Inspector General of Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment (DIFE) Md Shamsuzzaman Bhuiyan while speaking to the media. He added, “There are some complaints which are not possible to resolve in short time as we need 2-4 sittings to resolve such problems.”
It may be mentioned here that the Government established the hotline on March 15, 2015 and inaugurated the service on May 31 in the same year. Since then, 2,387 complaints have been recorded, according to the report of Sustainability Compact.
Of the complaints, 40 per cent are related to wages and 21 per cent job termination, the report said.
