On rare occasions does a laundry worker or a salesman of a neighbourhood grocery opens up to confide in one of the customers belonging to a class higher than his/her own about the odds s/he has to struggle against. Workers in the informal sector invariably find themselves in the receiving end. They cannot overcome the psychological barrier of class struggles. When they open up their heart, the insight is not quite comfortable. It melts hearts.
A laundry worker has to play a dual role in the absence of the man at the counter with the cash box. Even a young man's quality can prove to be a disadvantage. How? Because the youth can write and read, he is put in charge of accepting clothes either for washing or ironing or for both. By this time he has to leave out the work at hand. If delivery of ironed clothes is needed, he has to spot the right package from among piles of such garments. If such clothes are not found there, he has to look for the right items in the piles waiting to be pressed smooth. Ironically, the man does not get any extra wage for this additional service.
Salespersons of both low-end and high-end shops and outlets also have to render services they are not supposed to perform. Some of them have to sweep the floor and distribute leaflets in order to draw attention of customers. Such employees are not treated well. But it is expected that they would keep the smile ready for customers' satisfaction. Their duty hours in most cases are far too long. Their labour rights are nebulous and financial security is thus compromised most outrageously. There are risky jobs galore in the informal sector and employees engaged in such hazardous jobs suffer the worst vulnerability possible.
Even the mist surrounding trade unionism is gathering further gloom now, particularly after the latest workers' unrest in garments factories in Ashulia and elsewhere. Notwithstanding the endorsement of the provision of trade unionism in such factories, some overt and covert mechanisms are resorted to with the aim of stopping moves by workers to organise trade unionism. Both intrigues and intimidation are employed to eliminate any possibility of formation of labour organisations in factories. Some irate foreign customers have moved away complaining repression of workers.
The way society is getting segregated between the rich and the poor, between employers and employees and between the privileged and the deprived is indeed a cause for concern. All the indications are in favour of pushing human civilisation towards a most disturbing future where the relevance of Karl Marx's famous saying, "the worker of the world has nothing to lose, but their chains" could not be dismissed.
Human civilisation cannot flourish on deprivation of a large number of workers who have to maintain their families with a pittance they draw for their labour. Unless their living standard improves significantly, development of society will remain a mirage. This is despite the fact that the UN is now focusing on sustainable development goals (SDGs) for countries the world over.
The Bangladesh government has introduced the safety network for the ultra poor or the most vulnerable segment of people. The latest news concerning introduction of provident fund for informal workers should sound sweet in the workers' ears. But when the scheme involves some paper works and contribution from workers, the move may end up not achieving a crowning success even if it does not fall flat on its face. However it is a good beginning and it should be pursued with all sincerity and seriousness.
- Saturday, 23 November 2024 |
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