Contradictory instructions of the factory owners and the government regarding factory closure has put the workers in a dilemma.
The government has enforced a strict nationwide lockdown from 23rd July that includes complete closure of garment factories. Although garment factories were kept out of the purview of lockdown before Eid-ul-Azha, the government is resolute this time to keep all factories and industries closed during the post-Eid strict lockdown despite the appeal of factory owners.
However, the apparel manufacturers are still trying to convince the government to allow them to run factories amid the lockdown. They have granted the workers seven or eight days leave and instructed them to join their workplaces in phases starting from the 27th of July.
On the other hand, many workers’ rights activists have expressed concern over lay-offs and delay in paying wages due to the closure of factories.
Taslima Akhter, president of Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity told Bangladesh Post, “Many owners have told the workers that factories will remain open from 27th, 28th, or 31st July. Therefore, the workers who left Dhaka for Eid returned on the second day of Eid as lockdown started from the next day. Some of them returned on the first day of lockdown, failing to avail any transport the day before lockdown started”.
She further said that last year during the lockdown a large number of workers were laid off and they didn’t get their wages.
She demanded that this should not happen this time.
Babul Akhtar, chairman of Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF) told Bangladesh Post that despite the government’s announcement of continuing the lockdown until August 5 and without getting any hint from the government regarding the operation of garments, the owners have told the workers that factories will remain open.
Regarding lay-offs and pay cuts he said, the owners will have to pay full salaries of workers if factories remain shut as the workers would work if the factories were open.
According to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), 97 percent of garment factories under the association have paid wages and 77 percent has paid bonuses to their workers before Eid-ul-Azha.
Nazma Akter, president of Sommilito Garments Shomik Federation expressed frustration over the fact that a large number of workers didn’t get bonuses despite working during the lockdown.
“They worked hard, risking their lives and were not even provided with any transportation facilities”, she told Bangladesh Post.
She said that if factories resume their operations during the lockdown, government and factory owners should make arrangements to bring the workers back who left the city during Eid.
Prokash Dutta, assistant general secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Shangha echoed the same.
He told Bangladesh Post, “The workers will try to return to Dhaka at any cost fearing pay cuts if factories are opened during the lockdown as their livelihoods depend on it. This would create a chaotic situation and increase the sufferings of the workers.”
Although the factory owners have instructed the workers to return before the 27th, BGMEA First Vice President Syed Nazrul Islam claimed that they wouldn’t force the workers who left the city to return during the lockdown. They would run the factories with the workers who didn’t leave.
When asked about the resumption of factory operation from this month, he told Bangladesh Post, “The imported and exported cargos have to be cleared from ports to keep the ports operative. Therefore, the ports, customs, bonds, and banks are open. We have told the government that we also need our workers and staff for that. We are urging the government and hoping to get a guideline from the government soon.”
While many workers had left the city to celebrate Eid with their close ones, many stayed back as they wouldn’t be able to come back to Dhaka during lockdown to join their workplaces.
Worker of a local factory in Savar told Bangladesh Post, “We have been told that factories will be open from 27th of the month amid lockdown and that’s why I didn’t go to my village home”.
