Lawful as the peril in Dhaka’s Ashulia regarded as if it may per chance well per chance per chance well maintain stabilised after extra than two consecutive weeks of labour unrest on numerous demands, the involving-made garment workers started silent protests the day outdated to this nerve-racking an enlarge in minimal wages.
Whereas workers in a lot of factories in Ashulia maintain now demanded Tk25,000 as minimal wage, workers of some Gazipur factories also staged demonstrations and blockaded Dhaka-Mymensingh dual carriageway the day outdated to this, nerve-racking increased attendance bonus.
Union leaders acknowledged though they improve the interrogate of increasing minimal wages, they oppose the route of protests the staff are taking. They also hinted that the high-tail by the staff may per chance per chance need been incited by an outdoors team.
Nonetheless, the silent protests came as a shock for the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Affiliation (BGMEA) as a lot of demands by the staff had been authorized not too lengthy ago.
To govern the peril, Labour and Employment Ministry Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain sat with the staff’ handbook the day outdated to this, and has scheduled a gathering with RMG exporters at present in his secretariat attach of job.
In Ashulia, involving-made garment workers from a lot of factories positioned on all aspects of the Bypail-Abdullahpur dual carriageway within the Zirabo attach of Ashulia halted work the day outdated to this morning and gathered on their manufacturing facility premises, chanting “twenty-5, twenty-5” to press for their interrogate of Tk25,000 as minimal wage.
In preserving with industry sources, the staff who started protesting within the Ashulia belt were from a lot of factories, alongside with Get Asia, Dekko, Envoy and Vintage.
In preserving with a source of the industrial police, after the labour unrest last week, the total peril within the industrial attach used to be associated outdated till Saturday; but from the day outdated to this morning, the staff of numerous factories started protests again.
Police acknowledged the staff of some factories tried to blockade the dual carriageway within the morning, however the joint forces stopped them.
An legit of Dekko Community, who didn’t must be named, suggested The Industrial Favorite the day outdated to this morning, “We maintain authorized the demands of the staff within the vital phase. Nonetheless now the staff are protesting with fresh demands, particularly the interrogate of Tk25,000 wages and they also want prompt choices.
“Some demanded that the worth of tiffin, which used to be increased to Tk40, may per chance per chance restful be increased to Tk50 and anyone is asking to enlarge the attendance bonus which has already been increased from Tk300 to Tk800.”
In December 2023, the Bangladesh Minimum Wage Board established the garment sector’s minimal wage as Tk12,500 per month, a little of over $100.
Within the meantime, workers of Mondol Intimates Restricted blockaded the Dhaka-Mymensingh dual carriageway in Bagher Bazar attach of Gazipur Sadar upazila the day outdated to this, nerve-racking an enlarge of their attendance bonus.
The protests on the Dhaka-Mymensingh dual carriageway started within the morning, inflicting excessive web site traffic jam on each and each lanes of the dual carriageway and disrupting the high-tail of autos, leaving commuters stranded.
To lisp the peril below modify, participants of the army and industrial police were deployed at the scene.
In but any other incident, workers of Asrotex Restricted in Gazipur’s Sreepur started a work stoppage within the morning, nerve-racking a minimal attendance bonus of Tk1,000, an enlarge in tiffin allowance, and wage adjustments primarily based entirely on their grades.
Talking to TBS, SM Azizul Haque, assistant superintendent of police at the Sreepur camp of the industrial police, acknowledged, “Workers from two factories are protesting. We’re in talks with the authorities of each and each factories and hope to resolve the peril soon.”
Khairul Mamun Mintu, the prison secretary of the Bangladesh Garments and Sweater Workers Exchange Union Heart, suggested TBS, “There may per chance be no difference from our aspect on the must enhance workers’ wages and enforce a rationing procedure. These are indispensable steps.
“Nonetheless we enact not improve the style the staff are currently protesting.”
Mintu acknowledged, “I factor within the staff may per chance per chance restful exercise some patience for the reason that fresh authorities has just correct taken attach of job, and the discussions on these issues are already progressing in a dart direction.”
Although the labour leaders enact not maintain extra special modify over the staff in this high-tail, Mintu acknowledged, “The fresh authorities has mentioned that the peril of workers’ wages will possible be reconsidered. To this level, the authorities has been talking in favour of the staff, even suggesting the introduction of TCB playing cards.”
He added, “So, we enact not catch essentially the most up-to-date procedure of inserting and protesting justified. There will possible be incitement from a teach team at the succor of this high-tail. Whereas you happen to ogle, only one-2% of factories are repeatedly going via factors.”
Mintu further acknowledged, “In a most up-to-date assembly with the joint forces, I identified that it’s noticeable how only a handful of factories are the source of these troubles. I give it some view may per chance per chance restful be investigated who is at the succor of this and why. If the owners can title and interact in discussions with them, I agree with the peril may per chance per chance even be resolved. Simply filing complaints after layoffs will not resolve the topic.”
Md Elias, total secretary of Inexperienced Bangla Garments Workers’ Federation, suggested TBS, “We enact not improve the staff’ most up-to-date interrogate for a minimal wage of Tk25,000 taka. There is a lawful course of for wage increases, and it’s a time-drinking topic.”
“It hasn’t even been a Twelve months for the reason that fresh wage structure used to be implemented. I factor in workers may per chance per chance restful exercise some patience.
“We agree that essentially the most up-to-date wage may per chance per chance restful be adjusted given the rising cost of living. Nonetheless, the authorities may per chance per chance restful be given time, and demands may per chance per chance restful be raised via a mute course of,” he added.
Talking with TBS, Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, president of BGMEA acknowledged the manufacturing facility owners maintain already agreed with main demands of the staff – to enlarge attendance bonus and tiffin payments – and the RMG labour leaders had also agreed to resume production in all factories.
“Now, a fresh interrogate for a wage hike is amazingly comely,” he acknowledged.
“We must wait till the assembly with the labour adviser [to be held today] to grab further resolution,” acknowledged the BGMEA president
On Saturday, his board decided to reopen all factories as they obtained dedication from the staff’ leaders. Nonetheless now the BGMEA has approach succor from their resolution to reopen lay-off factories as unrest persevered the day outdated to this.
He also mentioned that the advisor and his ministry is decided to form a unified associated outdated for all RMG workers across the nation.
27 factories closed in Ashulia industrial zone
A total of 27 factories in Ashulia’s industrial zone maintain ceased operations the day outdated to this, in step with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Affiliation (BGMEA).
BGMEA acknowledged 13 of these factories were shut down below Piece 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, which enforces the “no work, no pay” policy. The last 14 factories are closed, with some workers on paid leave or not reporting to work.
Within the meantime, 245 factories within the Ashulia attach continue to feature, while six factories maintain but to pay wages for August, BGMEA added.
A total of 266 factories within the attach maintain already cleared their August salaries.
In Gazipur, 876 factories are currently working, with six closed. Within the Savar, Ashulia, and Zirani areas, 407 factories are initiating, while 27 live shut.
BGMEA also reported that 209 factories are operational in Narayanganj, 302 in DMP areas, and 350 in Chattogram, with out a closures reported in these areas.
M Asaduzzaman Saad, our Gazipur correspondent, and Jasim Uddin, special correspondent from Dhaka, contributed to the news.
