The owners of Readymade Garment (RMG) factory owners on Saturday threatened to keep all the factories across the country shut from today (Sunday) for an indefinite period if the labour unrest continues further.
Factory owners came up with the hard decision even after three advisors of the Interim Government assured the RMG factory owners assured them of providing safety and security.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) announced the decision after a view exchange meeting of owners, advisers to the Interim Government and union leaders at the BGMEA office at Uttara in Dhaka.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) also supported the decision of the BGMEA.
BGMEA President Khandaker Rafiqul Islam presided over the event. Other attendees include Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Labour and Employment Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan and Fisheries Adviser Farida Akhtar.
At the meeting, BGMEA President Khandaker Rafiqul Islam stated that due to the continuous unrest in the RMG sector, many of the foreign buyers have shifted their huge quantity of work orders to five of our neighbours countries, including India and Pakistan.”
He said unless the situation is improve4d and security is ensured, the apparel sector might face severe catastrophe in a near future.
During the meeting, Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan said anyone attempting to shut down factories to destabilise the government and harm the economy will be remembered.
"The government will implement special measures to tackle the unrest in RMG factories," Adilur said while speaking at a views exchange meeting on "Ongoing crisis in RMG factories and potential solutions" held at BGMEA Building.
l Govt assures owners of security
l Unpaid wages, jhut business control,
outsiders’ involvement behind unrest
He, however, did not provide further details about the special measures.
The advisor also announced that a decision has been taken to keep all factories open today (Sunday).
During the event, garment factory owners stated that if any factories were forced to close due to unrest, they would invoke section 13/1 of the labour law.
The section 13 (1) of the labour law entails that an employer may, in the event of an illegal strike in any section or department of any establishment, close down either wholly or partly such section or establishment.
Three reasons behind unrest in RMG sector
Meanwhile, at the meeting, Brig Gen Moin Khan, who has been monitoring the garment sector since the unrest erupted since August 29, told the meeting that they have identified three key reasons behind the unrest in the RMG secftor.
“unpaid wages, control over the jhut business and involvement of some outsiders are responsible for the continuous unrest in the RMG sector”, he said.
He requested the factory owners to pay the workers’ unpaid salaries as soon as possible and suggested the factory owners to solve the jhut trade through auction system.
Besides, he informed that those outsiders who are involved in the unrest have already been identified and legal steps have already been taken against many of them.
Most of the factories reopen
Moreover, most garment factories in Ashulia’s industrial zone, which had been shut down due to labor unrest, reopened on Saturday as workers returned to their jobs, disregarding the morning rain.
According to the Industrial Police, workers began reporting to various factories from early morning, and production resumed by 8 am. Superintendent of Industrial Police-1 Sarwar Alam confirmed that no incidents of violence, vandalism, or road blockades occurred throughout the area.
The situation is calm, and around 50 of the 86 factories that were closed under Section 13(1) of the Labor Act have reopened. Most of the remaining 13 factories that had declared general holidays are also operating today, said SP Sarwar.
He added that additional police forces have been deployed in front of factories to prevent any untoward incidents, and joint patrols in the industrial area continue to maintain order.
The unrest in Ashulia erupted following weeks of protests by workers and job seekers, leading to growing dissatisfaction within the labor force. On Thursday, the situation escalated, prompting factory owners to declare holidays in 219 factories, with 86 of them closed indefinitely.
However, the situation appears to be stabilizing, with police reporting that most factories are back to normal operations.
