ANVESHAK-International Journal of Management

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Grievances and Industrial Relations in the Ready-Made Garment Industry of Bangladesh with Special Reference to Falcon Group Limited


Affiliations
1 Department of Marketing, Jagannath University, Dhaka–1100, Bangladesh
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


The purpose of the study is to find out and evaluate the grievances and industrial relations among the workers and the management team in the ready-made garment industry of Bangladesh with special reference to Falcon Group Limited. The study has used both primary and secondary data and information. For gathering primary data and information, depth interviews have been conducted on 45 workers with 5-10 years' long working experiences selected from 9 operating sections of Falcon Group Limited through convenience sampling. Different published books, research articles published in different journals, periodicals and conference proceedings, working papers, newspapers, websites of different organizations and annual reports of Falcon Group Limited and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers&Exporters Association (BGMEA) have been reviewed and analyzed for collecting secondary data and information. The study has found out that conflicts among the workers and the management team occur over time as a vulnerable crisis in the ready-made garment industry of Bangladesh where as a member of this industry, Falcon Group Limited always tries to manage and overcome any unrest situation for maintaining harmonious and peaceful industrial relations like other few reputed garment manufacturing companies of the country. The study has also identified lack of educated and skilled workers, lack of safe and healthy working environment, lack of proper managerial knowledge, gender discrimination among workers, low wage rate, irregularities in payment of wages, lack of discussion opportunity with management, lack of compliance, long working hours, harassment, International conspiracy and political intervention, mistreatment with workers etc. as the major causes of grievances or labor unrest in this sector. Considering these causes, the study has also provided some policy recommendations to overcome the problems of labor unrest so that harmonious and peaceful industrial relations can be ensured in the garment sector. Therefore, the study will contribute in the garment sector as well as the economy of Bangladesh and add value to the policymakers of government and partner organizations, researchers, academicians, students and practitioners of the respective field of study.

Keywords

Conflict, Gender Discrimination, Grievance, Peaceful Industrial Relations, Labor Unrest, Low Wage, Ready-Made Garment Industry.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Ahmed, S., Raihan, M.Z. and Islam, N. (2013), “Labor Unrest in the Ready-Made Garment Industry of Bangladesh”, International Journal of Business and Management, Vol. 8, No. 15, pp. 68–80, available at: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijbm/article/ view/25661/17243 (accessed 1 February 2015).

  • Ali, M.M. (2007), “Profile of Women Labor Force in the RMG Industries: A Supply and Demand Side Analysis”, Bangladesh Economic Association Periodical.

  • BGMEA (2013), Annual Report, available at: http://www.bgmea.com.bd/home/pages/aboutus (accessed 2 February 2015).

  • Bhattacharya, D. (1996), “Climbing up the Value Chain: RMG Sector in Bangladesh”, paper presented at the Seminar on Export Competitiveness in Bangladesh Industry: Achievement and Policy Agenda, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) in Collaboration with British Council, Dhaka, Bangladesh, November.

  • Burke, J. (2013), “Bangladesh Garment Workers Set for 77% Pay Rise”, The Guardian, November 14, available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/14/bangladesh-garment-workers-payrise (accessed 2 February 2015).

  • Rahman, M., Bhattacharya, D. and Moazzem, K.G. (2008), “Bangladesh Apparel Sector in Post MFA Era: A Study on the Ongoing Restructuring Process”, Centre for Policy Dialogue in association with IFC and SEDF, Dhaka.

  • Heath, R. and Mobarak, A.M. (2012), “Does Demand or Supply Constrain Investments in Education? Evidence from Garment Sector Jobs in Bangladesh”, University of Washington Working Paper, January 30, available at: http://faculty.washington.edu/rmheath/Garments Paper Heath Mobarak.pdf (accessed 2 February 2015).

  • http://falcongroup-bd.com/index.php/2011-10-05-19-35-26/history, (accessed 5 February 2015).

  • http://falcongroup-bd.com/index.php/2011-10-05-19-35-26/vision, (accessed 5 February 2015).

  • http://falcongroup-bd.com/index.php/2011-10-05-19-35-26/mission, (accessed 5 February 2015).

  • http://falcongroup-bd.com/index.php/profile, (accessed 5 February 2015).

  • http://falcongroup-bd.com/index.php/profile/machinery-list, (accessed 5 February 2015).

  • http://www.leoisaac.com/hrm/indrel01.htm, (accessed 5 February 2015).

  • Ichniowski, C., and Lewin, D. (1987), “Grievance Procedures and Firm Performance”, in Kleiner, M.M., Block, R.N., Roomkin, M. and Salsburg, S.W. (Eds.), Human Resources and the Performance of the Firm, Industrial Relations Research Association, Washington, D.C.: Bureau of National Affairs, pp. 159–193.

  • Islam, M.S., Faruk, M.O., Khatun, R. and Rahman, M.E. (2014), “Conflict between Workers and Organization in RMG Sector Where Security of Sustainable Human Resource Development: A Study on Dhaka City, Bangladesh”, International Journal of Business and Management Invention, Vol. 3, Issue 4, April, pp. 52–66, available at: http://www.ijbmi.org/papers/Vol(3)4/Version-2/G0342052065.pdf (accessed 3 February 2015).

  • Kaufman, B.E., (2008), “The Original Industrial Relations Paradigm: Foundation for Revitalizing the Field”, in Whalen, C.J. (Ed.), New Directions in the Study of Work and Employment: Revitalizing Industrial Relations as an Academic Enterprise, Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 31, ISBN 978-1-84720-452-3.

  • Khan, S. (2008), “Challenges Facing the Garments Industry”, The Financial Express, January 27.

  • Khatun, F. and Moazzem, K.G. (2007), “Poshak Shilpe Nunyatama Majuri: Preksit Bangladesh” (in Bengali) [“Minimum Wage in the RMG Sector: Perspective on Bangladesh”], Bangladesh Unnayan Shamiksha, Vol. 1413, No. 33.

  • Majumder, P.P. and Begum, S. (1997), “Upward Occupational Mobility among Female Workers in the Garment Industry of Bangladesh”, Working Paper Series No. 153, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Dhaka.

  • Malhotra, N.K. and Das, S. (2011), “Marketing Research: An Applied Orientation”, 6th ed., Dorling Kindersley (India) Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, pp. 149–152.

  • Merriam Webster Dictionary (2015), available at http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/industrial relations (accessed 3 February 2015).

  • Nurse, L. and Devonish, D., (2007), “Grievance Management and Its Links to Workplace Justice”, Employee Relations, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 89–109.

  • Opatha, H.H.D.N.P. (2005), “An Empirical Investigation of Union-related Factors Contributing to the Labor-Management Relationship in Manufacturing Firms in Sri Lanka”, Sasin Journal of Management, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 85-102.

  • Opatha, H.H.D.N.P. (1994), “Employee Grievance Settlement Procedure: A Case Study of Two Corporations”, Management Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 53–60.

  • Peterson, R.B. and Lewin, D. (2000), “Research on Unionized Grievance Procedures: Management Issues and Recommendations”, Human Resources Management, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 395–406.

  • Rasel, R.A. (2015), “Beton-Bonus Nei 1372 Garmente” (in Bengali) [“No Salary-Bonus in 1372 Garment”], Bangladesh Pratidin, July 14, http://www.bd-pratidin.com/lastpage/ 2015/07/14/93604 (accessed 18 July 2015)

  • Research Initiative for Social Equity-RISE Society (2015), “The Biggest Festival of Bangladesh–Garment Workers Suffer Once More”, July 18, http://risebd.com/2015/07/18/the-biggest-festival-of-bangladesh-garment-workerssufferonce-more/ (accessed 18 July 2015).

  • Research Initiative for Social Equity Society-RISE Society (2013), “Minimum Wage Board (2013), Publishes Gazette; Basic Salary Go Down”, November 22, http://risebd.com/2013/11/22/minimum-wage-2013-basic-goes-down/ (accessed 4 February 2015).

  • Shahiduzzaman, (2010), “Repression Against Women on Rise in Bangladesh”, New Age, November 25.

  • Siddiqi, H.G.A. (2004), The Readymade Garment Industry of Bangladesh, The University Press Limited, Dhaka.


Abstract Views: 822

PDF Views: 1




  • Grievances and Industrial Relations in the Ready-Made Garment Industry of Bangladesh with Special Reference to Falcon Group Limited

Abstract Views: 822  |  PDF Views: 1

Authors

Zahir Uddin Arif
Department of Marketing, Jagannath University, Dhaka–1100, Bangladesh

Abstract


The purpose of the study is to find out and evaluate the grievances and industrial relations among the workers and the management team in the ready-made garment industry of Bangladesh with special reference to Falcon Group Limited. The study has used both primary and secondary data and information. For gathering primary data and information, depth interviews have been conducted on 45 workers with 5-10 years' long working experiences selected from 9 operating sections of Falcon Group Limited through convenience sampling. Different published books, research articles published in different journals, periodicals and conference proceedings, working papers, newspapers, websites of different organizations and annual reports of Falcon Group Limited and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers&Exporters Association (BGMEA) have been reviewed and analyzed for collecting secondary data and information. The study has found out that conflicts among the workers and the management team occur over time as a vulnerable crisis in the ready-made garment industry of Bangladesh where as a member of this industry, Falcon Group Limited always tries to manage and overcome any unrest situation for maintaining harmonious and peaceful industrial relations like other few reputed garment manufacturing companies of the country. The study has also identified lack of educated and skilled workers, lack of safe and healthy working environment, lack of proper managerial knowledge, gender discrimination among workers, low wage rate, irregularities in payment of wages, lack of discussion opportunity with management, lack of compliance, long working hours, harassment, International conspiracy and political intervention, mistreatment with workers etc. as the major causes of grievances or labor unrest in this sector. Considering these causes, the study has also provided some policy recommendations to overcome the problems of labor unrest so that harmonious and peaceful industrial relations can be ensured in the garment sector. Therefore, the study will contribute in the garment sector as well as the economy of Bangladesh and add value to the policymakers of government and partner organizations, researchers, academicians, students and practitioners of the respective field of study.

Keywords


Conflict, Gender Discrimination, Grievance, Peaceful Industrial Relations, Labor Unrest, Low Wage, Ready-Made Garment Industry.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.15410/aijm%2F2015%2Fv4i2%2F67729