Labour leaders on Saturday called upon the readymade garment workers to join their respective workplaces today (Sunday) while factory owners threatened keeping their units shut for an indefinite period if unrest persists.
Meanwhile, the advisors of the interim government warned of taking 'strict' actions against those responsible for creating unrest in the factories that continued for over two weeks.
Despite this state of not too congenial atmosphere, majority of the factories located in Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur industrial belts resumed operations on Saturday.
Still, some 49 factories, including RMG units in Ashulia, remained closed or suspended operations on the day.
The hope and despair emerged at a view-exchange meeting among three advisors-labour and employment, industries and fisheries, and livestock - owners of factories in Ashulia belt, labour leaders and law enforcing agencies, organized by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
Speaking at the meeting, industries advisor Adilur Rahman Khan said all readymade garment factories of the country will open on Sunday and called upon the workers to join their respective workplaces.
"The government will take 'strict' action if unrest is created in any units and it would be noted if anyone tries to destabilise the economy and keep the factories shut," he said.
Labour and Employment Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain also noted that the factories have to keep open, saying the shifting of work orders would affect the overall economy and if that happens, all will have to take the responsibilities.
He called upon the labour unions and leaders to act proactively so that the workers join their respective workplaces and solve issues through discussions.
The workers, like others who have been agitating for a long-time, are now making demands as a democratic environment has been created, he said, adding a labour-related committee has been formed to resolve the workers' problems.
They have started working to address the problems and the demands, he said, adding the government is working to introduce a rationing system for the workers.
He further said that the government will withdraw the cases filed against the workers demonstrated last year over the wage hike.
Earlier, the BGMEA president Khandoker Rafikul Islam warned of keeping their factories closed in line with labour law provision 13 (1) if they fail to operate on Sunday due to labour unrest.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) president Mohammad Hatem also backed the BGMEA's decision, saying they would go for a shutdown for an indefinite period as per the provision that allows 'no work no pay'.
Hameem Group Chairman A K Azad said the ongoing labor unrest lacks valid justification and that it would be impossible to run factories without enhanced security.
Global buyers source from Bangladesh as it offers goods at low costs and its substantial production capacity delivering goods in time, he said, adding that but now many including those from the US and Australia are reconsidering their visits due to security concerns and exploring alternative destinations.
The meeting was also informed that the workers from Hameem Group factories at Ashulia did not join the units after the lunch break on Saturday.
A group of owners also alleged that it is Hameem Group that provides many benefits to workers beyond legitimate benefits and problems in other adjacent units arise following such facilities that other factories can't afford.
"My factory was closed for 13 days and reopened on Saturday, but I still don't know the reason for the closure," Ananta Group managing director Inamul Haq Khan Bablu said.
Rising Group Managing Director Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu emphasised that factories must reopen and the government must ensure security.
He said that the factory owners, labour leaders, and the workers should all adhere to the labour laws, and added that if factory owners violate laws, BGMEA should hold them accountable, while trade unions should take action against labour leaders who act unlawfully.
He also highlighted that some influential factory owners disregard valid workers' demands by leveraging their power which negatively affects other factories.
Labour leader Babul Akter, Amirul Haque Amin, Moshrefa Mishu and Montu Ghosh also called upon workers to join their respective factories on Sunday.
Babul Akter alleged that there are 1,350 trade unions in the garment industry but all are not functional while attendance and tiffin allowances vary from factory to factory, and misbehaviour by mid-level management is very common in many factories.
Mr Amin also called on workers not to pay any heed to outsiders and join factories immediately.
They called on the BGMEA not to blacklist workers who were involved in any wage-hike protests and suggested discussion to resolve the ongoing issues.
Major General Md Moin Khan, General Officer Commanding of the 9th Infantry Division, identified three key factors behind the ongoing unrest in the RMG sector - attacks from outsiders, a mix of both logical and illogical demands from workers, and disputes over control of jhut (garment cutting waste) trade.
The army and law enforcement agencies have already managed to control the attacks by outsiders, but workers' demands should be addressed through tripartite initiatives, he suggested. The GOC also said that political leaders need to intervene and manage their party activists to resolve the issues related to jhut trade.
Industrial Police DIG Md Sibgat Ullah said that out of 9,481 factories including RMG under IP jurisdiction, some 56.8 per cent are yet to pay August wages.
According to the BGMEA, some 36 factories on Saturday closed in line with labour law provision 13(1) for an indefinite period with 'no work, no pay' while two more factories remained closed with pay and four others closed as workers left after joining in the morning.
Sources said these factories were closed in fear of vandalism as the units are located adjacent to the problematic ones which were affected in the past.
According to BGMEA, some 2,102, or 98.04 per cent out of its active 2,144 factories in the country were in operation on Saturday. And, 1,894 units have paid August wages.
Workers in the industrial belts especially Savar, Ashulia, and Gazipur demonstrated for more than the last two weeks on various demands while factories agreed to meet some of their demands, including increasing attendance and tiffin allowances.
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