Security personnel stand guard as workers of an apparel unit in Ashulia industrial belt staged a demonstration on a highway afresh on Monday with a demand for payment of their salary arrears. — bdnews24.com The country's major industrial belts, especially Ashulia, on Monday witnessed closure of an increased number of readymade garment (RGM) factories as fresh worker protests erupted there centring a number of demands, including wage hike.
About 59 garment factories in Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur industrial belts suspended operation on Monday as workers continued their protests over various demands including wage hike up to Tk 25,000.
Majority of the factory owners, however, in an emergency general meeting held on Monday night at the BGMEA headquarters in Uttara opposed any wage hike and increase in annual increment to 10 per cent from the existing five per cent.
They argued that the new wage was fixed last year while the sector has been facing a number of challenges due to global and internal factors including decline in global demands and high production costs fuelled by high prices of energy, wage hike and bank interest rate, among others.
Moreover, the factories remained closed for more than two weeks this month and faced such closure during the July-August anti-discrimination movement that caused a heavy blow as buyers shifted work orders to other countries.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) convened the EGM to discuss the present labour situation in garment factories and have its members' opinions on labour leaders' 18-point demand made in a separate meeting held on the same day in the labour ministry.
Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Parvez, former BGMEA president, suggested keeping factories closed for a week seeking safety and security to run businesses, saying despite assurance from Army and labour leaders they couldn't operate due to labour unrest.
"We set factories, it's our responsibility to bring order, produce goods, make shipments and bring payment. We are not responsible to ensure safety and security".
"Enough is enough, give us an exit," he said.
Faisal Samad, a BGMEA former director, suggested that BGMEA should claim compensation from the government for the loss caused for 15 to 18 days' closure, he said.
BGMEA former president Redwan Ahmed recommended shutdown of factories until safety and security are ensured.
The EGM was in progress until filing this report at 8.30 pm.
Workers of a garment factory named Seasons Dress in Gazipur took to the street and blocked Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in the morning over payment of wage as they are yet to get July and August monthly wage, Industrial Police sources said.
Meantime, workers of Generation Next in Ashulia also gathered at Bipail Abdullahpur road demanding wage payment and others.
Later, Industrial Police and Army personnel dispersed them at both locations but they were joined by workers of other factories.
Out of the 59 RMG factories, some 47 are located at Ashulia zone and the rest are in Gazipur.
Some 40 factories in Ashulia and two in Gazipur belt were closed in line with the labour law provision of 13 (1) that states 'no work no pay' while the rest announced holiday as workers either left or did not work after joining in the morning.
Law enforcing agencies' sources said workers from many factories on Monday demanded wage hike which was absent in their demands during the protests that began at the end of last month and continued for over two weeks.
Later on September 15 the unrest came under control as most factories opened with workers' joining of their respective workplaces after a tripartite call to do the same made.
Factory owners, labour leaders and three advisers from industries, labour and employment and fisheries and livestock at a meeting held at BGMEA on September 14 made the call to join workforces for the greater interest of the sector.
The situation improved last week though there were protests inside some units over various demands but deteriorated from Sunday as workers blocked two important highways in Ashulia and Gazipur over payment of dues, wages, increase in attendance and tiffin bonuses and others.
Ashulia-based factory owners at a meeting with law enforcing agencies, BGMEA leaders and labour leaders meantime also agreed to enhance attendance allowance by Tk 225, tiffin bonus by Tk 10 whatever the amount factories are providing.
But sources said some factories are yet to make the adjustments and announced the decision formally that also irked some factories' workers. Meantime, labour ministry on the same day evening held a meeting with factory owners, BGMEA leaders and labour leaders to calm the ongoing labour situation.
At the meeting, labour leaders placed an 18-point demand compiling the demands of agitated workers in several garment factories in Ashulia and Gazipur industrial belts.
The demands included reconstituting the Wage Board to set new minimum monthly wages for workers and full implementation of the 2023 minimum wage of Tk12,500 in all garment factories.
Other demands included amendments to the labor laws, immediate payment of all outstanding wages, and increase in attendance bonuses, tiffin bills, and night bills at the same rate across all factories.
Labour leaders also demanded a provident fund should be established in all factories, 10 per cent annual increment and food rations for garment workers.
Workers should not be blacklisted in the biometric database, and cases against those involved in the 2023 wage protests should be withdrawn, they demanded.
The rest included formation of guidelines to limit the dominance of the jhut business and ensure non-discriminatory employment practices in factories, day care centre at all factories, unlawful terminations should be stopped and 120 days maternity leave for women workers.
Compensation and medical care should be provided for workers killed or injured during the July movement, along with initiatives to support the well-being of Rana Plaza survivors.
Labour Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman assured labour leaders that the government is addressing several demands from workers, including compensation for those killed in the July movement and the Rana Plaza building collapse.
Some issues, such as wage reviews, depend on policy decisions and the ministry is committed to working on them, he noted.
Factory owners agreed to meet some factory-level demands, including various bills, payment of dues and the implementation of wages.They informed the meeting that some matters including wage hike, 10 per cent yearly increment would be announced later after discussions with BGMEA members.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
