Over 500 garment workers receive termination notices during leave

During the July Uprising Day holiday, 565 workers of a garment factory in Savar's Ashulia were sacked. The workers received the termination notices on their mobile phones while they were on leave.

A notice signed by the factory's Human Resources and Administration Department on Thursday, August 6, informed workers from various sections about the layoff.

The notice stated that the factory has been facing a business downturn due to various global and domestic factors. Production has been disrupted due to a lack of necessary banking support and a shortage of adequate work orders. In this situation, the decision to reduce workers was taken to ensure the factory's survival and business continuity.

The factory authorities said the layoffs of 565 workers will be effective from Saturday, August 8, following the legal process under Section 20 of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006. The notice also stated that the sacked workers will receive their dues and compensation according to the law, based on their service tenure.

Additionally, under Section 21 of the Labour Act, the notice said that if work increases or new workers need to be hired within the next year, the sacked workers will be given priority for re-employment.

Md Ziarul Haque, an operator from the swing section who was on the termination list, said he had gone to his village home in Dinajpur during the August 5 holiday. He received the termination notice on his mobile phone around 11pm on Thursday. He had no idea why he was sacked. Later, he learned that a notice had also been posted at the factory gate.

An official of Ashulia Industrial Police-1 said they had learned that the factory had laid off workers due to a business downturn caused by a lack of adequate work orders and the gas crisis.

However, Rafiqul Islam Sujon, president of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, alleged that the business downturn was just an excuse. He said laying off so many workers at once during a holiday was inhumane. He demanded the withdrawal of the termination notices and the reinstatement of the workers.