Workers’ Unrest Enters 5th Day Losses pile on RMG factories

Garment makers count millions of dollars in losses every day due to a halt in production amid the ongoing labour unrest that stemmed mainly from a rally called by a key minister early this week.
More than 160 garment factories remained closed in Gazipur, Savar and Narayanganj yesterday as workers continued violent protests for a fifth day demanding a near-tripling of wages.
Like many exporters, DBL Group loses around Tk 50 crore a day, its Managing Director MA Jabbar said yesterday.
Jabbar has kept all his four factories in Gazipur shut since the Saturday rally in the capital.
He said he tried to reopen the factories everyday but some outsiders instigate the workers and vandalise the factories that employ around 11,000 people.
Momin Mondol, managing director of Mondol Group, another leading garment maker, said all his 16,000 workers in three factories have been sitting idle for the last five days.
It is difficult to estimate the total amount of losses in the sector.
However, Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir yesterday said enhanced wages will be announced in late November.
“I have ordered law enforcers to ensure security in factories and go tough on the outsiders,” he told reporters after a meeting with the garment makers and workers at his secretariat in the capital.
Former BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy said they requested the government to deploy Border Guard Bangladesh personnel along with Rapid Action Battalion and police in the factories of the crisis-hit areas.
The home minister has asked the factory owners to resume production today and assured them of security, said Murshedy who was present at the meeting.

Police dispersing garment workers of Fatullah industrial area, Narayanganj, who staged a demonstration yesterday on Dhaka- Narayanganj link road to press their demand for a pay hike. Photo: Focus Bangla

Jabbar of DBL Group said, during the protests in the last five days, the unruly workers not only vandalised the factories, but also burnt eight delivery vans and an ambulance of the company.
He also said he will have to go for expensive air shipment to maintain the lead-time set by the buyers.
The owner of Mondol Group said he will have to pay an additional $6 lakh for air shipment due to the delay caused by the unrest.
“Other garment makers will also face the same fate,” Mondol said.
Meanwhile, labour leaders have assured the state minister for labour and employment of their support in reopening the factories today, Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar said after an emergency meeting.
In a statement, IndustriALL Bangladesh Council’s General Secretary Roy Ramesh said they have proposed the minimum wages for workers based on the Millennium Development Goals and the cost of living which is equal to around $120 per month.
“There is a consensus among all sections of Bangladeshi society that wages are low and work place safety is negligible,” the statement added.

Now it is to be seen whether the employers and the government come with a proposal that meets the aspirations of the agitating workers, said IndustriALL Global Union Regional Secretary Sudhershan Rao in the statement.
Meanwhile, at least 25 workers were injured when police charged batons on them as they were demonstrating for more than one hour blocking the Dhaka-Tangail highway and Dhaka-Narayanganj link road.
The workers also vandalised at least 10 vehicles and eight factories in Savar and Gazipur.

Police dispersing garment workers of Fatullah industrial area, Narayanganj, who staged a demonstration yesterday on Dhaka- Narayanganj link road to press their demand for a pay hike. Photo: Focus Bangla

GAZIPUR
The managements of more than 144 RMG units were forced to shut production at their factories fearing further vandalism, our correspondent reports.
The demonstration started around 8:30am when the workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway, halting transport movement for two hours.
The workers vandalised four factories — Mahmud Jeans, Niagara Textile, Apex and Dressman — in Kaliakoir upazila.
Later, they put barricades at different points from Konabari to Chandra and vandalised at least 10 vehicles there.
The agitating workers, however, moved from the highway around 10:30am.
SAVAR
At least 20 workers were injured during a 30-minute clash with law enforcers in Zirani area of Savar around 9:30am.
The clash began when several thousand workers of Masihata Group, Pall-Mall Group and Jeans Plus blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway.
The workers also vandalised at least four factories, said Abdus Sattar, deputy assistant director of Ashulia industrial police.
NARAYANGANJ
Around 5,000 workers of at least seven garment units gathered in front of Shibu Market and tried to block the Dhaka-Narayanganj link road around 9:30am.
The road communication was restored after an hour. At least five workers were injured during the clash.