RMG workers protest for outstanding wages

Hundreds of readymade garment workers demonstrated in front of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) office on Wednesday, demanding payment of their outstanding wages and festival bonus.

The demonstrators, workers of StyleCraft, started agitating at 11am and continued till 8pm. They said they had not been paid in the last three months and the factory management had closed the factory.

“After out last month’s demonstration, the owner promised to open the factory on August 25 and pay our wages. But he did not open his factory and our wages remain unpaid,” Halima Khatun, one of the workers, told The Business Post.

“We came here to demand our wages and we seek a clear announcement from the owner on whether he will keep the factory open or not,” she added.

BGMEA Vice President Shahidullah Azim told The Business Post that some of StayleCraft’s workers gathered in front of the BGMEA office. “We are trying to resolve it. A vice president of BGMEA is negotiating with workers and owner,” he said.

However, the workers claimed that they have not received any specific decision from the BGMEA and threatened to continue their protests.

“BGMEA told us that they would resolve this issue after a meeting, but we do not see any positive sign,” said KM Ruhul Amin, a leader of Trade Union Centre (TUC).

On July 18, hundreds of StyleCraft workers blocked the Dhaka-Gazipur road demanding immediate payment of their unpaid wages and festival bonus. Their protests created a massive tailback on the busy route amid a rush of home goers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. At that time, the industrial police came to the spot and took control of the situation.

A meeting was held at the intervention of the BGMEA in which the owner promised to pay due wages after Eid.