Garment workers protest in Ashulia demanding 3 months’ unpaid wages

Workers and employees of a garment factory are staging a sit-in demonstration in Ashulia of Savar demanding payment of three months’ unpaid wages and allowances and withdrawal of cases filed against labour leaders. The programme began in front of the main gate of Clothing Carnivals Limited factory in Buribazar area from 10am on Sunday.

The protesting workers alleged that about three months’ wages and other dues of more than two hundred workers and employees of the factory remain unpaid. Although the owners had assured several times about paying the dues, it was not implemented. The workers said they have fallen into financial crisis with their families due to not receiving wages for a long time.

The workers said they submitted memorandums to the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, the Labour Ministry, industrial police and Savar upazila nirbahi officer demanding payment of the unpaid dues and withdrawal of cases filed against labour leaders at Ashulia Police Station. After still not getting any effective solution they decided to stage a sit-in at the factory.

More than a hundred workers and employees staged the protest by taking position inside the factory until Sunday evening. The programme was continuing until 8pm, it was learnt.

President of Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation Rafiqul Islam Sujan said keeping three months’ wages of the workers unpaid is unjust. The workers and employees will continue the sit-in programme until the dues are paid quickly and the crisis is resolved.

Attempts to contact the factory authorities for their comments on the matter were made but no responsible official agreed to comment. Superintendent of Ashulia Industrial-1 Police Mominul Islam Bhuiya said the factory mainly operated through sub-contract work. The workers have been staging the sit-in since morning as three months’ wages remain unpaid. Attempts are being made to contact the owners to resolve the problem.