Intelligence activities and vigilance in and around the apparel manufacturing hubs have been beefed up in apprehension of violence over non-payment of wages and festival allowances ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, officials have said.
Workers' representatives in the readymade garment (RMG) sector said fresh unrest might break out in the garment sector before the Eid, if owners fail to clear workers' wages, festival allowance and other benefits by Saturday (today).
They say workers in several factories already staged demonstration over such demands and it could lead to violence unless necessary measures are taken immediately.
The labour leaders' apprehension came Thursday, a day after two factories witnessed protests in the capital over the same issue.
About 300 workers of Shishir Knitting and Dyeing Factory, a unit of Shishir Group, which employs around 1,000 workers, demonstrated in front of the Planners' Tower demanding their dues.
At the same time, nearly 1500 workers of Tuba Group also demonstrated in front of the BGMEA headquarters demanding their three months' wage arrears, along with festival allowance.
Tuba Group is the parent company of Tazreen Fashions where a fire broke out on November 24, 2012 killing at least 112 workers.
Seeking anonymity, an intelligence official said they had information about possible violence in garment factories and shared with those to the headquarters of Industrial Police, Police Headquarters, the Ministry of Home Affairs and BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) for taking necessary measures.
When contacted, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Industrial Police Abdus Salam said they had stepped up security in and around the country's apparel belts following intelligence reports about possible trouble over wages and allowances before the Eid.
He said they had already identified more than 500 risky factories and their officers were in negotiation with those factory owners to ensure payment for the workers.
"At the same time, activities of the workers' leaders are also being monitored in the factories to avert any kind of violence, which could destabilise the country's highest foreign currency earning sector," he added.
Director of Industrial Police (Kanchpur-Narayanganj) Mohammad Tabarak Ullah said the number of police both in uniform and plainclothes had been increased in the area.
"All the members have been instructed to remain alert for the remaining several days before the Eid. We of course want payments for all workers. But we'll not allow any trouble," he added.
Garment workers' leaders, however, adopted a wait-and-see policy in respect to the payments to workers.
Talking to the FE, President of Jago Bangladesh Garments Sramik Federation Bahrain Sultan Bahar called upon the apparel makers to clear all types of payments of workers by July 26 next as promised by themselves.
"If the owners fail to follow the deadline, it will be difficult to handle the situation," he added.
President of Textile Garment Workers Federation Abul Hossain said owners should show positive attitudes at the very crucial time as the industry witnessed a number of incidents of violence on several occasions in the past.
"We want wages, allowance and other financial benefits before Ramadan 27 to stave off the unrest of workers now prevailing," he added.
The workers' leaders also requested the government authority concerned to pay attention to the issue as it could lead to violent street protests and thus affect the journey of Eid holidaymakers by hampering traffic on highways.
The garment sector is the country's highest foreign currency earner and it alone fetched more than US$24 billion out of the country's overall export earnings of US$30.17 billion in the financial year 2013-2014.
London-based The Guardian adds: Work to bring Bangladesh factories used by north American retailers, including Walmart and Gap, up to fire and building safety standards will cost more than US$150 million (£87.9 million) and take at least 18 months to complete.
In its first annual report, the US Alliance for Bangladesh Workers Safety, formed in the wake of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Dhaka killing more than 1,100 people in April last year, said it had completed fire and building safety inspection of all the 587 factories its members were using now.
Ten factories had been closed or partially closed, as a result of structural faults revealed in inspections.
Ian Spaulding, a senior adviser to the Alliance, said: "People are realising that they can't just buy from any factory."
The report says, overall orders from Bangladesh had not been cut, but consolidated among fewer suppliers.
Alongside the Alliance, a 170-plus group of international retailers including Primark and Marks & Spencer are backing the Bangladesh Accord on Fire & Building Safety which is inspecting more than 1,500 clothing factories.
Unrest feared if RMG workers not paid
Jubair Hasan | Published: July 26, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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