Apparel workers staged protests in the capital on Sunday demanding immediate reopening of two apparel factories and payment of the wages, dues and festival allowance to the workers before Eid-ul-Fitr.
Workers of KL Fashion Ltd staged demonstration in front Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association building at Karwan Bazar, while Swan Garments workers began a nonstop sit-in in front of the National Press Club.
KL Fashion workers said that the management closed down the factory on July 6 without any notice or payment of the wages and allowances.
The workers staged protests in front of the factory at Badda, but neither got any result nor could reach the management.
The workers started gathering in front of the BGMEA building at about 11:00am on Sunday demanding payment of wages and allowances before eid.
They also demanded termination benefits as per the Bangladesh Labour Act.
The agitating workers, however, withdrew their sit-in at about 2:00pm as the BGMEA officials assured that the wages and allowances would be paid Tuesday.
Bangladesh Garment Workers Employees League president Sirajul Islam Roni told new Age that the BGMEA officials threatened workers that they would take action against the workers if they staged the sit-in in front of the association building.
Despite repeated attempts over mobile, the factory managing director, Zakir Hossain Talukder, could not be reached.
Swan Garment workers started a nonstop sit-in in front of the National Press Club for reopening of the factory and arrear wages for three months and festival allowance before Eid-ul Fitr.
The management closed down Swan Garment Private Limited at Uttar Khan three months ago, worker leaders said.
Garment Workers Trade Union Centre organised the sit-in where trade union leader Manjurul Ahsan Khan said that the factory owners must lay of the factory following the labour law.
He called on the government and the factory owners to take step to reopen the factory and pay wages to the 1,300 workers of the factory.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh president, Mujahidul Islam Selim, urged the government to ensure payment of the wages before Eid-ul Fitr.
New Age correspondent in Chittagong reported that workers of Glory Garments owned by Sunman Group demonstrated at Nasirabad area in the port city on Sunday protesting against assault on one of their fellows.
On 2 July, several thousand workers of the same factory demonstrated on the same road for arrears.
Bayezid police sub-inspector Abdul Halim told New Age, ‘Factory supervisor Mannan assaulted a worker during protests on the factory premises and then the workers took to the street.’
He said that Mnnan was arrested.
Industrial Police inspector Arifur Rahman said thet the situation as now under control.
Source: New Age
