Garment workers demonstrate after beating officials

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FE Report
Hundreds of garment workers on Friday demonstrated after beating several officials of the factory where they work following a management decision to recruit labourers on a contract basis, police said.
Police said nearly 2,000 workers of Kushiara Composite Knit Industries Limited become unruly in the morning when they came to know the new employment process.
Angered by the decision the workers beat up several top officials of the apparel unit, including executive director and production manager, Ashulia police station Officer-in-Charge Sirajul Islam told the FE.
He said there has been a longstanding dispute between the factory authorities and the workers.
Authorities of the factory, who make clothes for buyers from Sweden, Belgium and Denmark, were later forced to suspend production for the day fearing more agitation and vandalism.
The agitated workers said they would launch a massive protest programme if the owners introduce contractual recruitment. "We'll resist the owners from taking the illegal move at any costs. We want to work here as a permanent worker," a protestor said.
Officials of the factory, however, were not available to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, the demonstrating workers also demanded immediate release of their five colleagues, who were arrested overnight following a case filed by a tea vendor.
The arrested workers are -- Moslem Uddin, Razzeque, Razib, Rezaul, and Nazrul Islam.
Leaders from several workers' association also demanded unconditional and immediate release of the detained workers.
They demanded that trade unions must be launched in the RMG sector to allow the workers to voice for their demand and ensure proper communication between workers and owners.