Home ›› 01 Aug 2021 ›› Front
Tens of thousands of apparel workers undertook perilous journeys back to their workplaces on Saturday, prompted by the government’s decision to allow export-oriented factories to resume operation starting today amid a strict countrywide coronavirus lockdown.
Many workers told The Business Post that the factory management ordered them to join work. They said they were going back to their workplaces to safeguard their livelihoods, defying the risk of coronavirus infecting thousands of people daily.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told The Business Post that factories were permitted to operate with workers living near their workplaces.
“BGMEA and BKMEA authorities assured us that the workers, who will fail to join work on August 1, will not lose their jobs,” he said. “We will take steps if the employers breach their promises. They (the factory owners) have put us in an embarrassing situation.”
Meanwhile, in a media statement, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan reassured workers that they would not lose jobs if they fail to join work on the reopening day.
“We asked members to start production with workers available in the factories areas. Those who are at home will join after [the government] eases travel restriction,” he said.
‘Forced to come’
Apparel workers headed towards Dhaka, Gazipur, Savar and Narayanganj in droves, some on foot, some crammed into pickups and trucks amid a ban on public transport. The transportation cost was too high in most cases. Some of the workers said a lack of policy directions from the government and factory owners added to their sufferings.
The crowd of people on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway began to increase after Friday evening. Many people were crossing the Chandana Chowrasta on foot. They were seen at Square Masterbari, Nayanpur, Mawana intersection, Gorgoria Masterbari, Rajendrapur, Ghazipur intersection, and Tongi areas.
The workers hired motorcycles, autorickshaws, and rickshaw vans to travel. Some workers told The Business Post that the factory management was forcing them to return.
In a Facebook post, the managing director of AJI group and actor Ananta Jalil wrote on his verified page: “Everyone is asked to join the factory on the reopening day.” However, he denied posting the status, saying that his media team operates his Facebook page.
A worker of the AJI group told the Business Post that his factory supervisor called him over the phone on Friday night and ordered him to join work. No public transport is available, he said. “I am going to Ashulia in any way I can.”
Fashion Forum Limited also asked its workers to join work on the reopening day or face administrative action.
“They may deduct my salary or even sack me. I have no other option. I hired an ambulance with five other colleagues. It cost us Tk 2,500 each,” a RMG worker said.
Abu Taher and Amjad Hossain, both workers of a Konabari factory, said they came from Sirajganj braving great difficulties. “We had to switch vehicles five times which cost us Tk 1,000 per person to come to Chandra of Kaliakair Upazila. There is no limit to our suffering.”
However, some factories asked workers not to travel to the office until the travel restriction is relaxed. Fatullah Apparels and Croydon-Kowloon Design issued official statements asking workers not to come amid the lockdown.
‘Pushed to the brink’
Nazma Akter, president of Sommilito Garment Sramik Federation, told the Business Post that the government should have taken the decision with a clear direction on how and when the workers would reach their work station.
She urged the government to ask factory owners to pay risk allowances to workers and ensure coronavirus vaccines for them.
“The workers would have gotten enough time to return to Dhaka if the government made the call on July 27-28. But it did not happen,” she said.
Momo Akhter of Manikganj, a nurse at Lavender Garments in Chandana Chowrasta area of Gazipur, said she changed vehicles four times to reach Kaliakair. She did not have much money left, forcing her to make the remaining part of her journey on foot.
“We have been pushed to the brink by this sudden factory reopening announcement. I had to cram into a pickup and couldn’t follow any health guidelines. I don’t know what waits for me next,” Momo said.
Demonstration in Rangpur
Meanwhile, hundreds of apparel workers demonstrated in Rangpur blocking the Rangpur–Dhaka Highway demanding resumption of public transportation to allow them to travel to Dhaka to join work today.
“The sudden announcement about opening factories made me puzzled, but I must go to Dhaka,” Hossain Ali, an apparel worker of a factory located in Gazipur, said.
He said he started from home on Friday night and came to Rangpur’s Modern intersection by auto-rickshaw on Saturday morning from Pateshori Bazaar.
“I will lose my job if I fail to join the factory by Sunday morning,” said Ali.
Hundreds of workers are facing the same problem as Ali.
Rangpur Metropolitan Assistant Police Commissioner Altaf Hossain said that they talked to the workers and pacified them. The workers withdrew the blockade after police assured them to arrange vehicles to travel to Dhaka, maintaining health protocol.
“We have arranged some BRTC buses and trucks for them,” he said.
Our correspondents in Gazipur, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Rangpur contributed to this report.
