Hundreds of Tuba workers looking for new jobs

Shah Alam Nur | Published: August 12, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

Hundreds of laid-off garment workers of five factories of the embattled Tuba Group are on a search for new jobs as an uncertainty looms large over resumption of production in the industrial units.
They are at loose ends, having no work, as operation of the five factories remained totally suspended since July 28, workers and factory officials said.
After clearance of the workers' due wages, the owner of Tuba Group could not start operation of their factories as all of the machinery and other instruments have been sold out for payment of wages and other benefits to its workers.
"We are yet to take any decision on the reopening of the five factories of Tuba Group," Zannat Fatima, workers' welfare officer at Tuba Group, told The Financial Express Monday.
She said for disbursement of three months' wages, the factories' all machinery has been sold off. As a result, opening the factories is not possible.
She recognised that unlocking the five factories is uncertain as the owner of the group has already been facing crisis of funds for running the business.
If the owner of Tuba Group wants to run the factories, she said, he will take minimum six months to restart his business.
Anwar Hossain, a sewing operator at Tuba Fashion, told the FE: "I have already got the wages for three months. I am in great frustration as our factory has been out of production since July 28."
He is not sure if and when their factory will be reopened. As such, he is now busy searching for a new job.
He said for the last one week he had knocked at some of garment factories for a job, but to no avail.
"My savings will be gone very soon, and it is now great concern how I will feed my four-member family, bear education expenses of my two children," lamented the worker who used to make world-class apparels for export.
Nasima Akhter Banu, another sewing operator at the crisis-ridden Tuba Group, said: "I was at Mita Design (a sister concern of Tuba Group), but now my factory is out of production."
She finds no ray of hope now. "I see dark as I am only earning source for my family. I don't know when my factory starts and when to join my work."
She said that it is tough to find a job in recent times as new recruitment almost halted at readymade garment (RMG) factories.
Moshrefa Mishu, president of Garment Workers Oikya Forum, said: "If the owner of Tuba Group wants to shut down his factory, he has to discuss it with workers and worker leaders of the factory."
She noted that when a factory owner wants to go out of production, he has to pay all of due pays, including three months' basic salary.
The apex trade body in the sector--Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA)-also appears to be in a quandary over the situation. Atiqul Islam, the BGMEA president, said the five factories of Tuba Group were now totally closed and their future depends on the owner, Delwar Hossain.
He said they have been trying to open the factories but it is difficult as all of machinery has been sold out for disbursing wages to the workers, who had been on a strike, including fasting, for the arrears and festival bonus.
State Minister for Labour Mujibul Haq Chunnu Sunday told newsmen if the owner of Tuba Group could not run his five factories, then he has to pay 3 months' salaries to each of the workers.
There are a total of 1,470 workers in the five Tuba factories: Tuba Textile Mills Limited, Taif Fashion Limited, Mita Designs Limited, Bughshan Garments Limited, and Tuba Fashions Limited.
The workers went on hunger strike on July 28 to press their demand for three months' due wages and Eid bonus.