RMG workers demand 15pc annual increment

At least 25 garment factories in the industrial belt in Ashulia suspended operation on Wednesday as workers staged a work stoppage, rejecting the government's latest announcement of 9 per cent annual increment.

On Monday, the labour and employment ministry made the announcement raising the garment workers' annual wage to 9 per cent from the existing 5 per cent effective from this month.

Workers of the 25 units, including Hamim Group, Sharmin Group, Medlar Group, Next Collection, Al Muslim, and Setara Group, gathered in the morning to press home a set of demands, including a 15 per cent annual increment and a monthly wage of Tk 25,000.

Due to workers' protest, some of the factories announced closure of their units under Section 13(1) of the Labor Law while a few others announced holiday.

Additional police and military personnel were deployed in key points of the industrial area to avoid any untoward eventualities.

[email protected]