Many garment workers living in the city face a predicament – a sudden rise in house rent on the common perception that they are getting the raised salary fixed by the government. In reality, many workers have not received the increased amount as yet.
In Rampura, there are quite a few small shacks for garment workers and due to relatively high rent, seven to eight persons live in one room.
Reportedly, the rent of rooms housing garment workers has seen a rise between Tk 200 and Tk 800.
Since garment workers want to stay near their workplace, owners of such accommodation take the chance to raise the rent in areas which has many textile factories.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers’ Association, BGMEA, said that if the government wants then a dormitory for workers can be arranged, but owners cannot take such initiatives.
Disgruntled garment workers claim that usually, the rise is of a few hundred Taka but this time, it has been much higher
Several workers have asked for dormitories. Joint-president of BGMEA, Mohammad Nasir, told Bangla Tribune, “Accommodation is a huge problem for garment workers but it’s not possible for the BGMEA to construct a dorm.”
We heard of a government initiative which did not move for some reason, he said and added, “The government can ensure a solution.”