Workers deserve dignity despite unfair pay

Bangladesh's economy, progress, and prospects all hinge on three words starting with the letter 'R' in English: Rice, Remittance, and RMG. Simply put, these three constitute the lifeblood of Bangladesh's economy. They represent labor-intensive work. To put it bluntly, Bangladesh's development and progress rely significantly on the contribution of labor, rather than on intellect, talent, or skill. Bangladesh stands on the shoulders of its workers. The real backbone of Bangladesh is its labor force. The most readily available and cheapest resource in Bangladesh is its people, thus labor comes at the lowest cost.

However, those very workers who have kept us afloat and propelled Bangladesh forward are the most neglected. Take, for example, the farmers. They toil relentlessly throughout the year to produce crops that feed us, yet they have no voice, no organization, they are overlooked by the media, ignored by politicians. They resort to suicide when they can't afford irrigation water. They struggle to survive while the cost of fertilizers and pesticides skyrockets, but the price they receive for their produce remains stagnant. I fear every time the prices of rice, jute, potatoes, onions, and vegetables plummet during the harvest season; the farmers who are already struggling might not be able to cultivate crops next time. Yet, our resilient farmers never give up. Even in the face of natural disasters, they cling on, finding ways to survive, to plant seeds again in the fertile soil of this delta. They may not articulate their losses, their tears may not touch our hearts, but they continue to work tirelessly.

Alongside them are the selfless warriors of progress, the migrant workers. More than a million Bangladeshis live abroad. Not all of them are remittance warriors. Educated like us, for various reasons, they settle in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, contributing to those countries' economies. They don't just send remittances; instead, they engage in smuggling, selling off properties in their homeland for their dreams. They buy houses, cars, secure futures for their families. I've seen in the newspapers, in the eastern region, most of the plots allotted to the returnees have been sold at exorbitant prices. Surely, they won't keep that money in Bangladesh. They may return home with dreams of prosperity or end up returning as corpses. Some return after 2-3 years, with hopes and dreams. What I've witnessed at the airport fills me with shame. Those who smuggle money receive VIP treatment at the airport, while those who sweat to send money back home are treated like animals. They return to find plots of land have turned into buildings, wives remarried. They do so much for their country but receive so little respect.

Every time I return to the village, I see the dalan (porch) of my brother's house has been built with the money sent from abroad, or someone's wife has been taken away by another. They do so much for the country, yet they receive little respect.

The plight of farmers' labor is a pressing issue in our country. Their toil often goes unnoticed, yet it is their work that sustains agricultural production. Following independence, various countries around the world have witnessed significant upheavals in rural economies, with migrant workers becoming a crucial component. However, the labor of migrant workers is often overlooked. Instead, it is the garment industry that has transformed Bangladesh's economy. The role of the garment industry in empowering women is immense. The development of Bangladesh's garment industry is primarily attributed to cheap labor. While Bangladesh faces no competitors in this regard, garment owners are reluctant to pay the true value of this cheap labor. The elite class in Bangladesh predominantly comprises garment owners who frequently update their lifestyles, benefiting from various government incentives. However, the fate of garment workers remains unchanged. As the population grows and labor remains inexpensive, so does the value of human life.

Previously, Bangladesh's garment industry was plagued by accidents. The Rana Plaza collapse in 2013 stands as a grim reminder of the hazards faced by garment workers. While some improvements have been made in ensuring worker safety, their wages and benefits have not seen proportional increases.

In countries where the economy relies heavily on human labor, it is the workers who receive VIP treatment. However, in Bangladesh, workers are often neglected and marginalized. In fact, like many other countries worldwide, Bangladesh also observes May Day. The Haymarket affair in Chicago, United States, in 1886, where workers demanded an eight-hour workday, remains etched in global memory. May Day is celebrated in Bangladesh as well, but without a single day off for workers. Rather, if they take a day off, their daily wage is reduced.

This underscores our economy's dependence on labor. In such countries, the value of labor is low, and so is the dignity afforded to workers. Even if not in terms of monetary compensation, a little respect and dignity toward workers don't cost anything. Changing the mindset is crucial. In Bangladesh, being a worker often means being neglected, exploited, and oppressed. The lack of dignity in labor contributes to many Bangladeshi people who work hard abroad but do not wish to return home. Whether toiling in inhumane conditions in rubber plantations abroad or working menial jobs in developed countries, they prefer not to return to Bangladesh.

A person who works in a hotel in London may never work in a hotel in Bangladesh. Similarly, a young man driving a taxi in New York may prefer marrying a girl from the local market rather than seeking a bride from Bangladesh. Since workers sustain our economy, it's imperative to elevate their status and change our mindset toward them. Thus, they must be accorded the highest respect and dignity to foster the necessary change in our mindset.

Author: Columnist and Head of News, ATN News.