Garment workers block Dhaka–Tangail highway in Gazipur over wage demands

Workers of a garment factory blocked the Dhaka–Tangail Highway in Gazipur on Saturday (March 14), disrupting traffic on the highway for about half an hour.

The protest took place around 11:30am beneath the Nawjor flyover in the city.

Traffic returned to normal after police intervened and removed the workers from the road.

According to workers and police sources, employees of MASTERCHAM LTD. alleged that their expected annual salary increment was not included with their February wages. In protest, workers first halted operations at the factory before marching to the highway and blocking traffic under the Nawjor flyover, causing long tailbacks.

Industrial police and officers from Bason Police Station arrived at the scene and held talks with the workers. They were eventually persuaded to clear the highway around noon.

During the blockade, the protesting workers presented a 10-point charter of demands.

The demands includes payment of outstanding wages set by the government within three months, overtime pay for work after 5:00pm, an annual bonus equivalent to half of basic salary, higher work rates, salary payments within seven working days, humane treatment of workers, and three months’ pay in case of termination.

Harun Or Rashid, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bason Police Station, said, "The workers were convinced to leave the highway."

"They were advised to resolve the dispute through discussions with factory management," he added.