Most RMG factories in unrest-hit areas reopen

Majority of the readymade garment factories, closed amid labour unrest, reopened on Saturday, but many workers continued their demonstration on the day, according to sources.
They said around 400 units were closed during the unrest for more than a week demanding a wage hike. All but 42 have resumed their production.
According to sources at the law-enforcing agencies, about 95 per cent of garment factories under their jurisdictions, including Ashulia, Gazipur and Narayangang except Dhaka Metropolitan areas, remained open on the day.
However, some five to seven thousands of workers from a number of garment factories at the industrial belt of Ashulia continued demonstration and took to the street on the day, resulting in clashes with police, they added.
Sources said the workers came out of their respective factories and insisted others to come out and join them. They hurled stones and bricks at the executives and factories, and tried to block roads.
Police dispersed the unruly workers by firing tear-gas shells and rubber bullets.
Talking to the FE, Touhidur Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh Garments Workers Unity Council, said they conveyed the message of the state minister for labour, Monnujan Sufian, that a new wage structure would be announced shortly, possibly within a week.
He, however, called on police not to suppress the workers and to refrain from firing bullets, saying that such an action would only deteriorate the situation.
When asked, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan said some 42 factories - 37 in Ashulia, four at Mauna in Gazipur, and one at Mirpur - remained closed on Saturday.
According to industry insiders, there are some 400-450 garment factories located in the Ashulia industrial belt. At least 150 units were closed on Wednesday amid labour unrest, followed by additional 250 on Thursday.
After a meeting with the home minister, BGMEA in a circular on November 01 said the closed factories would reopen on November 04 (Saturday).
It also said the factories that remained closed on Wednesday with pay would remain closed on Thursday with pay, and would follow labour law provision under section 13 (1) on Thursday if they were closed with the same announcement under 13 (1) on Wednesday.
Labour law provision 13 (1) allows no work, no pay.
It also advised that if workers of any factory do not work on Saturday after reopening or leave factories being influenced by outsiders, the factories can announce closure in accordance with the labour law provision 13 (1) for an indefinite period.
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