A meeting attended by ministers, garment factory owners, workers and BGMEA leaders on Sunday decided to introduce trade union in the garment sector to deal with problems of the apparel industry.

Labour and Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Chairman of parliamentary standing committee on labour and employment Israfil Alam, leaders of BGMEA and Sramik Oikya Parishad and Jatiya Sramik League and representatives of owners and workers of the garment industry attended the meeting held at the labour and employment ministry.

After the meeting, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan told reporters that a 12-member committee will be constituted to study how effectively trade union could be introduced in the garment industry as law is there for trade union activities. Khan said problems faced by owners and workers of the garment industry could be resolved amicably if the trade union could be introduced. The decision came a day after the violent incidents that took place following the closing down of Nippon Garment Factory at Ershad Nagar in Tongi.

The chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on labour and employment ministry will be the head of the 12-member committee and the labour and employment secretary its member secretary. The committee will include five representatives each from owners and workers. Names of these representatives will be given to the government within next three days. Besides, a government inquiry committee will be constituted to investigate the Saturday’s incident at Nippon Garment Factory.

-Daily Star