Labour unrest halts production at RMG factories in DEPZ

Owners of around half a dozen of garment factories in the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) in Savar were forced to suspend their productions on Wednesday in the wake of labour unrest.

Sources said the labour unrest started brewing in a factory namely Talisman Ltd. on Tuesday as its workers raised a number of demands, including a hike in attendance bonus, Eid holidays up to 10 days, increment on gross wages, eight-hour working shift during Ramadan and no termination of workers.

The workers also demanded that they be served the same food together with the factory officials and casual leave over a mobile phone call be granted.

The workers also brought an allegation of 'misbehaviour' with a female worker against a foreign official of the Talisman factory and demand his dismissal, the sources said.

Nazma Binte Alamgir, general manager (public relations) of Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA), said, "Following the 'unreasonable' demands the workers are raising for the last two days, the factory authorities announced the unit closed for Wednesday."

The workers then started instigating workers of other factories, she said, adding that some five to six factories also suspended their productions for Wednesday after the incident.

When asked, she said no evidence against the alleged misconduct has been found.

"We will take action if the allegation can be proved true," she assured.

The Talisman factory authorities and workers sat together in a meeting at the BEPZA's zonal office in the evening to resolve the issue, she said.

[email protected]