In the face of escalating workers’ protest and violence, readymade garment owners have shut down nearly 500 factories to avoid further clashes, save workers’ lives, and protect factories from vandalism.
In the last two days, two workers died and hundreds of workers and police reportedly got injured during clashes, and the demonstrations spread to the Gazipur, Ashulia, Savar, Mirpur, Konabari and Chandra areas.
Industry owners are seriously concerned about missing shipment deadlines before the Christmas day celebrations.
Amid this backdrop, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in a press conference on Tuesday advised factory owners to shut garments for the sake of saving workers' lives and the industry.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan announced the decision after speaking with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on the phone. He then told the media, “The government formed a wage board, and the new salary structure will be effective from December.
“We proposed a salary structure, but this is not final. Some miscreants have created instability in the RMG sector and vandalised our factories, at a time when the board is yet to finalise wages.”
He then pointed out, “We have decided to shut factories under section 13/1 of the labour act to save our factories and workers’ lives from the threat of protests. In that case, workers will not get wages during the closure.”
The decision came at a time when the country is facing a severe shortage of forex reserves, because the apparel sector is the largest source of foreign currency for Bangladesh. Due to the ongoing global economic crisis, the sector is facing order shortages for a long time.
To make matters worse, the country is now going through a political instability. BNP, the largest opposition party in the country and its allies are observing a countrywide strike demanding free and fair polls through an interim government.
Industry leaders said due to the ongoing workers and political strike, they fear of incurring huge losses as many ready or almost ready goods may miss shipment their deadlines. In that case, their only option would be very expensive air shipment, and offering discounts to buyers.
Bangladesh will lose out to many buyers if the ongoing situation persists, said former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) AK Azad, adding that it is the peak season for receiving orders.
He added, “At the same time, we are facing an unwanted political crisis on top of the economic crisis. Buyers are feeling concerned over placing orders. They are now worried about on time shipments for existing orders as the supply chain has been disrupted.
“We have already sought support from the government, and they decided to deploy Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to prevent violence and protect our factories and businesses.”
Unrest continues for 9th day
The garment workers have been demonstrating since early last year, demanding a monthly minimum wage of Tk 23,000 to Tk 25,000, and their representative to the minimum wages board proposed Tk 20,393 as monthly lowest salary.
But the owners’ representative of the board had proposed Tk 10,400 as monthly minimum wages on October 22, which made agitated workers take to the streets on October 23.
Though their demonstrations were initially peaceful, this turned violent on October 29, when police tried to remove them from the street.
On October 30, two workers died during the clash with the police, while police fired tear shells, rubber bullets, and bullets to protect them. Workers also torched vehicles and ABM Fashion, and also vandalised cars, and a number of factories.
On October 31, agitated workers came to the street in Gazipur, Ashulia, Savar, Konabari and other areas of the region, and demonstrated for the same demand. They also demanded justice for the two deceased workers.
Workers claim that on that day, the ruling Awami League activists and owners’ men attacked them along with the police. Hundreds of workers were injured that day during the clash.
“We held a peaceful demonstration in the Mirpur area. But in the morning, the Epyllion Group owner hired some outsiders and started beating us mercilessly.” a worker of the company told The Business Post on condition of anonymity.
Along with him, hundreds of workers held demonstrations in the areas by blocking roads. They shouted slogan, “We want justice, we want to live, we need Tk 23,000 as monthly salary, unless we will not stop.”
Same situation was seen in almost all nearby areas, where workers showed demonstrations. But the difference is, except in Mirpur, demonstrations in other areas turned violent.
The BGMEA claimed that the workers vandalised almost a hundred factories, and set fire in two factories, ABM Fashion and a Fortis Group factory.
Bangladesh Chamber of Industries President Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez said, “We are not sure how many factories have already been vandalised as the protests still continue, but it is not less than hundred. Besides, nearly 500 factories have already shut due to the protest.
“Due to the ongoing clashes, the RMG sector is going to face hundreds of crores in losses.”
Parvez, also a former president of BGMEA, further said, “We strongly believe that our workers are not involved in such terrorist activism, and outsiders are trying to create instability in the RMG sector, as well as in the country.
“However, a small number of workers are participating in the protests.”
