Tuba workers agitate for dues

Workers of the closed Tuba Group apparel factories staged demonstration on Saturday again in front of the BGMEA building in the city demanding their 'lawful' outstanding dues.

Terming the owner's response to the workers' demand inhuman, Tuba Group Sramik Sangram Committee convener Moshrefa Mishu at the demonstration said they would gather again in front of the National Press Club on October 15 and announce fresh agitation programmes to press for implementation of their demands.

Earlier on Saturday morning they staged demonstration in front of the Banani residence of BGMEA vice president Md Shahidullah Azim.

Workers of the five closed factories of Tuba Group have been demanding their 'rightful' outstanding dues for the last few days as the factory authorities failed to clear the payments despite the government's intervention in it.

Tuba Group Managing Director Delwar Hossain earlier expressed his inability to pay the workers unless he gets the claimed insurance money.

However, the government is considering legal action against the Tuba Group management after the Eid vacation.

The Tuba Group workers have been holding a series of agitation programmes for days ahead of the Eid.

Around 1600 workers of Tuba Group had observed a hunger strike for 11 days since July 28 to realise their wages for three months and festival allowances.

Later, the workers were paid three months' wages and overtime bills on August 6, 7 and 10.

On August 18, the Tuba Group management in a notice announced closure of its five units for an indefinite period as per the article 13 (1) of the labour law with effect from June 11 last.

The government found closure of the Tuba Group units 'not proper' and asked the management to shut down the units as per the law of the land and pay the workers accordingly.

State minister for labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu in a meeting held on September 21 gave assurance that the workers would get at least something before the Eid ul Azha. But the workers got nothing till Saturday.

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