RMG protests flare up as Eid nears
Apparel workers stage demonstrations at different spots across the country for arrears and Eid bonuses
At least 30 readymade garment workers staged demonstrations in different parts of the country for arrears and bonuses on Sunday, a week before the Eid.
Hundreds of workers of the Paradise Group laid siege to the residence of the factory owner in Dhaka's Gulshan area as they were unpaid for ten months.
The workers chanted slogans for their arrears while barricading the house, said Rafiqul Islam, assistant commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Gulshan Zone).
Similar protests have flared up in Dhaka's outskirts Ashulia, Gazipur, Narayanganj and port city Chattogram as the novel coronavirus cases soar, said the Industrial Police.
According to the Industrial Police headquarters, around 200 member factories of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association are yet to pay March and April salaries.
At least 61 percent of garment, knitting, textile and other industry workers across the country did not get their April salaries as of Sunday, according to the Industrial Police data.
"Workers took to the streets, observed work abstentions, staged sit-ins at factory gates and barricaded roads in places for the arrears amid the virus pandemic. We are trying to normalise the situation," said Mohammad Amjad Hossain, Industrial Police Superintendent (Headquarters).
The Business Standard district correspondents report in details.
At Ashulia, workers of at least nine factories staged demonstrations for arrears, Eid bonuses and compensations – risking Covid-19 infection. Those ten factories employ nearly 30,000 workers.
They demanded bonuses and fall wages before Eid-ul-Fitr.
The factories are – Orbit Knit, Smart Knit, Rakef Apparels, Dong Leaon BD, Agies Textile, NRL Ltd, Fojiya & Fahim Fashion Ltd, Prudent Fashion Ltd and Hamim Group.
In Gazipur, workers of Space Seater Ltd, ATS Sweater Ltd and Knight Angel Fashion Ltd stopped working at production lines for March and April arrears.
Meanwhile, workers of Baily Shema Apparels Ltd staged a sit-in in front of the apparel industry gate protesting the factory closure.
In Narayanganj's Fatullah, workers of Paradise Cable Ltd staged demonstration for ten-month arrears.
In the meantime, nearly 700 workers of Alpha Knit Ltd, Adila Ltd and Adventurer Ltd staged demonstrations for April salaries in port city Chattogram.