Labour Grievance Monitoring Committee visits factories in Ashulia
The committee aims to evaluate and recommend measures to resolve ongoing labour disputes in these sectors
The newly-formed Labour Grievance Monitoring Committee of the labour ministry visited various garment factories in Ashulia this (15 September) morning in a bid to resolve the ongoing workers' unrest in the industrial area.
During the visit, they held discussions with workers and owners of various factories.
After the inspection of a factory of Anant Group in Ashulia at around 11am, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Labour Md Sabur Hossain told the media, "We want to know the demands, objections and complaints of the factory owners, workers and related parties. We have a hotline number 16357, WhatsApp group and email address through which we can also be reached."
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He said following the formation of the 11-member committee last Wednesday, a meeting was held the next day regarding the committee's scope of work and operations.
"As per the decision of that meeting, we have come to Ashulia today to solve the situation arising in the industrial area.
"We want to know the fair and reasonable demands and present them to the government. If there is an opportunity to meet those immediately, we would recommend that too. If it takes time, I will also inform the government. We hope that the factories will continue to operate and all factories will open from today."
The apparel industries located in Savar, Ashulia, and Zirani, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka have become the main victims of the ongoing labour unrest.
According to industry insiders, the unrest initially stemmed from internal issues at a few specific factories and has since escalated.
These factories, which were largely beneficiaries of the previous government, have often suspended wage increments over the past three years, paid management staff salaries irregularly, and failed to provide its staff with maternity and earned leaves.
In light of this, the Ministry of Labour and Employment constituted a "Labour Grievance Monitoring Committee" to resolve the ongoing labour unrest.
The committee aims to evaluate and recommend measures to resolve ongoing labour disputes in these sectors.
