[shujan]

Resolve workers' wage dispute Prof Yunus tells RMG exporters Staff Correspondent Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday urged garment manufacturers and exporters to self-regulate the industry by establishing a domestic compliance rating for each company.He also called on the readymade garment manufacturers to resolve the disputes over workers' wages and provide health insurances for them. Yunus was speaking at a reception given in his honour by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) at Hotel Sonargaon last night. "If we can comply with the foreign compliance standards by implementing different compliance standards [for the country's garment manufacturers] on different levels, I am sure we will be able to keep our own house in order," said Yunus. "Things would become much more convenient for everyone if compliance ratings can be established on different levels for each company," he added. Yunus urged all BGMEA members to resolve the problems regarding workers' wages. "It should not be a problem if the owners put their mind to it," he said, adding, "I also call on you to consider implementing a standardised programme for insurance for workers." Yunus heaped praise on the garment manufacturers, drawing similarities between the progresses of BGMEA and his own brainchild organisation, Grameen Bank. He said both the organisations oversaw the growth of an ever-growing entrepreneurial spirit in Bangladesh and provided massive opportunities for the poor women of the country. He said Bangladeshis have dispelled past beliefs of an absence of entrepreneurship among the Bangalees by transforming the economy through garment exports. "We all feared thinking what would happen to us with the downturn in global jute demand in the 1980s, but the exports of garment products have never let us feel the large vacuum left by our country's jute exports," said Yunus. Commending the continuing growth of Bangladesh's readymade garment sector, Yunus said observers had feared poor women working in this sector would be out of work after the end of the Multi Fibre Agreement in 2005, but the country's garment manufacturers have defied those fears to grow even further. Yunus said the poor women and the hard-working workers of Grameen Bank are the stakeholders in the pride of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. He recalled the innovative idea of microcredit first practised in a small village in Chittagong, which is now being demanded worldwide because Bangladesh's problems are reflected to varying extent everywhere. He cited recent interest from China, Bahrain and the British central bank as prime examples. BGMEA President SM Fazlul Hoque, who chaired the reception programme, asked Yunus to continue in his support for Bangladeshi garment exporters to gain duty-free access to the US market. Hoque also pledged BGMEA's support for Yunus' goal to eradicate poverty in Bangladesh as it impedes economic growth, development and increasing crime.

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/02/21/d70221011712.htm

Now here is an example what a leader should do for his country: Open Bangladeshi garments available in the USA market without tax. This will drop Bangladeshi garments price in the USA by 10%. This will increase demand for Bangladeshi garment in the USA creating more Garment industry for Bangladesh resulting higher income. Now question to you is can Hasina or Khaleda accomplish this? Dr Yunus can.Dr Yunus has influence in Democratic leader like Hillary clinton and President Clinton. Hillary Clinton is the high profile democrat in the congress. Democrat holds congress and house both. President Clinton and Hillary Clinton asked Dr Yunus to establish grameen foundation in the USA during 1980 when Clinton was governor of Arkansas. Dr Yunus set up Grameen foundation in Arkansas first which now provide micro finance to 80 different countries. President Clinton had great influence for Dr Yunus getting Noble peace prize.

Now Please THINK who should you vote for!