No bindi, no bonus: RMG owners cancel Eid bonus as ‘teep protest’

The readymade garments sector (RMG) chose to make the statement as 80 percent of its workforce, or around two million, are female workers.

"Most of our workers are women, right? Can you check? Well, I think they are. Anyway, how dare someone tell them what they cannot wear? From now on, all female workers must wear teeps or bindis as some call them," said Nawabzada Malik, president of the Clothing, Hoarding Organisation of Rogues (CHOR). 

"To further protest this blatant sexism, we have decided to cancel the bonus of our workers," he added. 

Asked why the workers' bonuses had to be cancelled, Nawabzada said that as he thinks most of the workers were female, they had become disturbed hearing the news of the harassment of another woman by a cop. 

"They were really disturbed. So productivity fell. Now, we can no longer meet the shipping deadlines. Thus, we have to cut their wages," he said.   

Shamma Hoque, a worker at Brilliant Fabrics, said she was onboard with the decision. "A few days of gas crisis means our bonus is cancelled. Covid means our bonus is cancelled. Traffic means our bonus is cancelled. At least this time it's for a good cause," she said. 

Asked if she would protest this move, she said she would not. "No. People already think we are violent as is. They'd rather see us stand in the roads with candles and in silence. God forbid we create a nuisance just because we cannot feed ourselves or our children," she said.  

The workers union body leader, after having tea and biscuit with the owners' association leader, however, said they were gearing for demonstrations.  

"We don't agree with this at all. Why should the workers' bonuses be cancelled? We want to take to the streets wearing teeps, but there's hardly any space for us, what with all the cars stuck in gridlock," union leader Afzal Quadri said.  

"But we don't want to do it now during such a holy month. We don't want to inconvenience our masters further," he added. 

The Human Rights Body has also taken note of the situation. 

"Sexism is bad. Not paying workers' due is also bad. All we want is for the workers to get their dying wages on time," Human Rights Chair Sultana Parvez said. 

Asked if she meant living wage, she replied in the negative. "Lmao. Who lives on those wages? Anyway, we are planning to hold an essay competition to highlight this travesty. That's the extent of what we want to do."

Lubnan Khaleesi is about to crack the code on Piaju-making