Workers block Dhaka-Mymensingh highway over attendance bonus demand
To bring the situation under control, members of the army and industrial police were deployed at the scene
Workers of Mondol Intimates Limited blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Bagher Bazar area of Gazipur sadar upazila today (22 September), demanding an increase in their attendance bonus.
The protest began in the morning, causing severe traffic congestion on both lanes of the highway and disrupting the movement of vehicles, leaving commuters stranded.
The workers have been demanding an increase in the attendance bonus for some time now, said sources.
Instead of joining work, they took to the streets and blocked the highway.
To bring the situation under control, members of the army and industrial police were deployed at the scene.
In another incident, workers of Asrotex Limited in Gazipur's Sreepur upazila started a work stoppage from this morning, demanding a minimum attendance bonus of Tk1,000, an increase in tiffin allowance, and salary adjustments based on their grades.
Discussions between the workers and the factory management are ongoing.
An official of Deco Group, who did not want to be named, told The Business Standard, "We have accepted the demands of the workers in the first phase. But now the workers are protesting with new demands, especially the demand of Tk25000 wages. And they want instant decisions."
"In the morning the workers entered the factory and got down on the floor. Since then, the ground has been protesting. The workers of other factories have protested and walked out, but our workers are still not leaving. They have blocked several staff members. A section of them is demanding that they have to accept their demand of Tk25000 now. Some say that after increasing the price of tiffin which was increased to Tk40, it should be made to Tk50. Someone is asking to increase the attendance bonus which has already been increased from Tk300 to Tk800," he added.
"Workers from two factories are protesting. Mondol Intimates Limited workers have blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway demanding an increase in attendance bonus. We are in talks with the authorities of both factories and hope to resolve the issue soon," said SM Azizul Haque, assistant superintendent of police at the Sreepur camp of the industrial police.
Efforts to negotiate with the workers and factory authorities are ongoing to reach a resolution, he added.
27 factories closed in Ashulia industrial zone
A total of 27 factories in Ashulia's industrial zone have ceased operations today (22 September), according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
BGMEA said 13 of these factories have been shut down under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, which enforces the "no work, no pay" policy. The remaining 14 factories are closed, with some workers on paid leave or not reporting to work.
Meanwhile, 245 factories in the Ashulia region continue to operate, while six factories have yet to pay wages for August, BGMEA added.
A total of 266 factories in the area have already cleared their August salaries.
In Gazipur, 876 factories are currently operating, with six closed. In the Savar, Ashulia, and Zirani areas, 407 factories are open, while 27 remain shut.
BGMEA also reported that 209 factories are operational in Narayanganj, 302 in DMP areas, and 350 in Chattogram, with no closures reported in these regions.