670 garment factories closed due to worker unrest: BGMEA

BGMEA has reported that extreme unrest has emerged in the country’s three main industrial zones amid workers’ movement over various demands including increase in minimum wage, re-employment of retrenched workers and stopping of blacklisting. As the situation could not be brought under control and workers stopped work and left the factories, 670 garment factories in Mirpur of the capital, Gazipur-Mymensingh and Savar-Ashulia-Zirani regions have closed. As a result, 16,80,572 workers have been forced to return home without working.

BGMEA disclosed these figures on Monday (November 2).

According to the organisation’s account at 11:30am, 1,464 factories were operational out of a total of 2,134 factories in five industrial zones of the country.

BGMEA said Gazipur and Mymensingh have been the most affected among the industrial zones. Workers of 382 factories out of 836 in these two areas stopped work and left. As a result, 8,83,472 workers returned home without working.

The same situation prevailed in Savar-Ashulia and Zirani areas as well. Work remained suspended at 223 factories out of 441 there. 7,43,650 workers returned home from these factories without working.

Besides, operations of 65 factories out of 320 in Mirpur of the capital came to a halt. As a result, 53,450 workers returned home without getting work.

However, there was no impact of worker unrest on 197 garment factories in Narayanganj and 314 in Chattogram. All factories in these areas remained operational normally, BGMEA said.

Earlier on Sunday, widespread protests took place in the industrial zones over the demands for fixing the minimum wage at Tk 30,000, re-employment of retrenched workers and stopping blacklisting of protesting workers.

At one stage, clashes with police, firing of tear gas and sound grenades and chase-counterchase took place between workers and police. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was deployed in Savar and Gazipur areas to control the situation.

Due to tension and violence in the industrial areas, authorities had declared holidays at a total of 529 factories across the country including 177 in Savar-Ashulia on Sunday as well to ensure overall security.

Police said 49 people including leaders and activists of Awami League and its affiliate organisations have been arrested from Mirpur of the capital and Gazipur on charges of taking part in violence and sabotage.

An emergency meeting of senior officials of the Home and Labour ministries was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday evening to handle the situation and ensure security of industrial factories.

At the meeting the Prime Minister directed to take necessary measures to keep factories open quickly and strengthen overall security.