627 workers laid off at Keya Group, many learn of job loss upon arrival in morning

A total of 627 workers have been laid off from four establishments of Keya Group in the Jorun area of Konabari, Gazipur. The list of laid-off workers was posted at the factory's main gate on Monday evening, with many workers learning of their termination only after arriving for work on Tuesday morning.

The affected workers were from Keya Group's Knit Composite Division, Spinning Division, Cotton Division and Keya Yarn Mills Limited.

Mosammat Shilpi, one of the laid-off workers, said she had been working at the factory for a long time. The factory had not been running well for three months, and wages had been outstanding. She had children to educate and rent to pay. "I came to the factory this morning like any other day and found I no longer had a job," she said.

Another worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he had been working at the factory for 20 years. "I did not know anything. I came today and found my job was gone. Who will pay the arrears? We have not even been able to speak to anyone from the management," he said.

Gazipur Industrial Police-2 Superintendent Mohammad Amjad Hossain confirmed the layoff of 627 workers. He said the Keya Group authorities had given him a copy of the layoff notice.

The notice, signed by the Managing Director and Chairman of Keya Cosmetics Limited's Knit Composite Division, stated that the authorities had decided to abolish certain posts in various sections, departments and divisions to reduce production and administrative costs due to banking complications, gas disconnection for non-payment of bills and excess manpower.

The notice further stated that a final decision had been taken to lay off the surplus workers and employees from September 8 under Section 20 of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006. It also said their dues would be paid in accordance with the law.

Sabina Yasmin, Manager of the organisation's Human Resources Department, said all legally payable dues of the laid-off workers would be cleared within the next 30 working days.