The interim government is reportedly preparing to take a hardline approach to protect the readymade garment industry as many workers of several factories in the Ashulia area again demonstrated on Saturday, even though authorities have already decided to meet all of their demands.
The government sat with labour ministry officials, workers’ leaders and readymade garment (RMG) owners’ leaders at the labour ministry on Tuesday last.
After discussion, the government and RMG leaders jointly declared that the workers will join the workplace as all 18-point demand of the workers has met.
Some RMG factories’ workers, however, again started protest on Saturday in Ashulia area, and most of the factory owners’ are directly involved in ousted Awami League including two former parliament members.
The ministry of labour and employment officials, law enforcing agencies, RMG exporters and workers leaders believed that a vested interest group is now trying to create anarchy in the sector in motive of damage its reputation and helping neighbouring country to grab the market.
Speaking to The Business Post, a high official of the labour ministry said, “We always focused on peaceful solution, though the protest started on August 31. The ministry set several times with the workers and owners, and already workers’ all demands has met.
“Today some workers came out in the street and restarted protest. They also forced others workers to join with them, and threatened owners shut factory unless will vandalise.”
“We believed that workers are not involved in the occurrence as they joint their workplace. Now the government will take necessary step as per the law to protect our industry, employment as well as the country’s economy,” he added.
BGMEA President Khandaker Rafiqul Islam said, “We already set with the government, and they assured that law enforcing agencies will took position in the factory gate. The government will not tolerate further instability.”
According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Industrial Police, workers in Ashulia zone joined their workplace on Saturday morning.
However, 12 RMG factories of the Ashulia area were closed on Saturday due to the security reason with “no work, no pay” policy under the labour act.
Of the factories, Lusaka Group’s Beq Knit Ltd workers took place to the street demanding to reopen the factory and withdraw case against workers, filled on September 9.
Additionally, Mondol Group and Envoy Group workers also joined with them and threatened the next door factory owners to shut production, otherwise they will vandalise. They called other factories workers to join them in the protest.
Therefore, over 30 factories were then forced to announce closer for the day to protect their establishment.
Envoy Group and Mondol Group owners are Abdus Salam Murshedy, and late Abdul Majid Mondol respectively, and those were members of parliament from ousted autocrat Sheikh Hasina regime.
A worker, from the protest, claimed that their owner hired local people to beat workers, and some already been injured. When asked him about the name or details about the victim workers, he failed to say anything.
When asked about the reason of the protest, the worker said, “Besides, owners made commitment to withdraw case against us, but they announced closer on Saturday. That is why we are showing demonstration.”
Labour ministry officials said that some Awami League backed trade union leaders and factory owners, and neighboring Indian agent are spreading rumours and misguiding workers to create anarchy. They already suspected some ‘culprit’, and some already been sent to jail in this regard.
