Over 400 RMG factories closed as labour unrest continues
Al Amin :
The number of closed garment factories in Gazipur and Ashulia has increased further on Thursday due to the ongoing labour unrest stemming from the workers’ demand for higher wages.
The entrepreneurs of the apparel industry, around 84 per cent contributing to the country’s export earnings, are very much concerned over the situation and urged all to support tackling the unrest.
Sources with the RMG sector and law enforcement agencies said at least 421 factories were closed in Gazipur and Ashulia and half of these factories remained shut since last Tuesday.
The export earnings from the sector will decline further, if the situation prolongs, the industry insiders said.
Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent of Police (SP) Saryar Alam said that around 386 garment factories have been closed since Thursday in Konabari, Kashimpur and Kaliakore in addition to the surrounding areas of Gazipur city.
Garment Sramik Oikya League General Secretary Sarwar Hossain, however, said that over 150 factories in different areas of Ashulia have issued notices declaring holiday till Friday.
The latest flurry of protests came after garment manufacturers proposed a minimum wage that is nearly half of what the workers are asking for.
The entrepreneurs of the apparel industry proposed Tk 10,400 as the minimum wage against the workers’ proposal of Tk 20,393. Currently, the minimum pay in the readymade garment sector is Tk 8,000, which was set five years ago.
Like the previous days, the agitating garment workers gathered in various places early morning on Thursday and demonstrated on the roads demanding a rise in their wage.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan on Thursday said, “The ongoing labor unrest, allegedly sparked by discontent on the minimum wage issues, has seriously interrupted the industry and export for the past one week and led to a decline in export in October.”
“While the minimum wage review is under process and the Minimum Wage Board is working within its given time, such violent protest is unfortunate, and this affects the activities of the wage board.
We need wholehearted support from all to restore discipline in the industry for our common interest,” he added.
He further said, “We are passing through a turbulent time globally, such incidents will not be helpful to bend the export growth curve up, and we cannot afford any adverse impact on employment and foreign exchange earnings caused by anarchy in the industry.”
BKMEA Vice-President Fazle Shamim Ehsan told The New Nation, “Over 400 apparel factories have been closed due to the labour unrest.
Although the unrest erupted by the influence of outsiders, the government has failed to take action against them. As a result, we are very much concerned over the situation.”
He, however, said that all the closed factories will reopen from next Saturday and they will make a decision considering the situation on Saturday.
In Dhaka’s Mirpur area, there are around 235 factories and a good number of them have remained closed, said Masuk Mia, additional deputy commissioner of the Mirpur division of Police.
