Garment workers in Ashulia and Gazipur industrial belts are out on strike again as they blocked highways on Sunday over a number of demands, including wage hike, sources said.
The latest spell of commotion came with a week's let-up after their protests continued for more than two weeks in August, leading to the closure of most apparel factories.
Thirty-three ready-made garment (RMG) manufacturing units in the garment hubs also suspended operations the same day, added the sources.
According to industrial police (IP), workers of a factory blocked Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at Bagherbazar under Gazipur Sadar upazila in the morning demanding a hike in their attendance bonus.
Protest broke out in Ashulia as well.
Workers of other factories came onto streets and gathered on Gazipur-Tangail highway, disrupting traffic and thus causing severe congestion.
However, security forces later dispersed them.
Talking to the FE, IP officials said there was no road blockade last week, although workers of some factories continued protest or left factories after joining the workplace.
Sewing machinists had been in movement since the beginning of September and continued for more than two weeks.
As the situation improved, almost all factories in the major industrial belts of Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur came into production last week except a few.
Industry insiders, however, said there was no demand for a pay hike during last protests. But workers of a few factories made the demand afresh on Sunday.
At that time, most of the factories demand over payment of July and August months' wages, increase in attendance allowance, production bonus, overtime payment and leave, they added.
According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), 27 factories in Ashulia and six in Gazipur suspended operations the same day as workers took to streets and blocked the highway.
Workers from a number of factories gathered inside the factory and started demanding a minimum wage of Tk 25,000.
Out of the factories, some 13 stayed shut in line with the labour law provision 13 (1) that states 'no work no pay'.
On the other hand, at least 14 announced holiday with pay or could not operate as workers either left the units after joining or observed work abstention.
According to the BGMEA data, some 77 out of 2,144 listed factories are yet to pay wages for the month of August.
Industry sources said workers of factories like Bando Design, Rose Garments and those of Dekko, Envoy, Ananta and Newage groups, among others, protested in the Ashulia belt.
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