Muhammad Ayub Ali :
Readymade garment (RMG) workers from Narayanganj, Savar, and Gazipur, on the outskirts of Dhaka, have staged repeated protests, demanding various issues, including the payment of arrears and the reinstatement of sacked employees.
The ongoing labour unrest, which began on August 29, has brought the lucrative Bangladesh RMG sector to a critical crossroads, raising alarm among buyers, industry insiders warn.
Thousands of workers from different factories recently blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur and the Hemayetpur-Singair road in Savar, again protesting issues such as unpaid wages.
Nazma Akter, Executive Director of the Awaj Foundation, an organisation dedicated to improving workers’ rights, particularly for women, told The New Nation that some factories have failed to pay workers, and some factory owners have fled abroad to avoid paying overdue wages.
“The ongoing labour unrest in the RMG sector involves multiple parties, including factory owners and political leaders,” she said.
Akter emphasised that if all stakeholders fail to resolve the current labour unrest, the RMG sector could face severe consequences. She urged for a timely and effective resolution to ensure work orders continue without disruption.
“We are facing significant challenges; the banking sector is struggling, which is why some factories are unable to pay their workers regularly,” said BGMEA Director Md. Mohiuddin Rubel.
To address the unrest, Rubel stressed that all parties must play a cooperative role-workers should exercise patience, and factory owners must act swiftly to resolve the issues.
Towhed Rahman, President of the Bangladesh Apparels Workers Federation, highlighted the impact of delayed wages: “Workers rely on their salaries to support their livelihoods, and when they don’t receive timely payments, they are pushed to the streets to meet their basic needs.”
A senior BGMEA official, speaking anonymously, claimed that some individuals have been inciting unrest among workers, particularly following the ousting of the Hasina-led government.