Ctg EPZ workers demand wage hike

Staff Reporter :
Instability in RMG sectors as well as other factories of the country are increasing as the owners of the factories are not paying standard wages according to the directives of International Labour Organization (ILO).

Hundreds of workers of various factories of Chattogram (Export Processing Zone (EPZ) area has been protesting since Tuesday morning demanding increase in wages as their expected.

Eyewitnesses said that on Tuesday morning, workers of seven factories of Denim exporter Pacific Jeans Group and other mills of the area started demonstration on the streets outside the factories without attending work.

The EPZ authorities confirmed the matter to the media in the afternoon that they have persuaded the workers to return to work in some factories, while negotiations are going on with the rest.

Syed Tanver Ahmed, Managing Director of Pacific Jeans said, according to the newly announced wage structure, they have paid additional wages to all categories of workers on Monday.

Though, the workers of the foreign-owned Yong Wan Group had been paid more wages than the wages announced by the wage board, our employees are demanding higher wages, he said.

Tanver claims that he talked to the workers and they were assured and return to work.

Later, workers of JJ Limited came in front of the Pacific Group factory and started shouting slogans and pelted stones to the factory.

In this regards, Executive Director of Chittagong EPZ.

Abdus Sobhan said, according to the new wage structure, almost 75 percent of the factories have been paid the wages of December last. The rest of the factories are scheduled to pay wages on Tuesday.

He admitted that there is some confusion among the workers about the new wages.

They expected enhancement of wages.
Consequently, dissatisfaction among the workers being prevailed, he added.