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RMG workers to get arrears today: Adviser Asif

Labour unrest in RMG sector will end by Saturday, hopes BGMEA chief

Published : Thursday, 12 September, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 223
Garment workers will receive their wages until August on Thursday at the latest, according to Labour and Employment Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan.

The government is also forming a committee to look into the separate incidents of labour unrest in Dhaka's Savar and Gazipur - two major hubs for the export-oriented industry, reports bdnews24.com Asif told the media at the Secretariat, "The workers will receive their backpay by tonight [Wednesday] or tomorrow [Thursday] morning amid the labour unrest that has arisen at the garment factories in Savar's Ashulia.

The prompt payment of arrears and allowances has been urged, the labour adviser said. The government has also urged the Bangladesh Bank Governor to release the money quickly at the request of the factories.

Due to the disruptions to production in the readymade garments sector amid the student-led mass movement in July, factory owners have called for 'soft loans' to pay workers' salaries for the month of August.

The government has petitioned the banks to meet the request. The salary funds will go directly to the workers' accounts.

Asif said that instructions were given to quickly pay out the salaries for August.

"There are some long-term issues," he said. "We will try to resolve them through a process of consulting and hearing from everyone."

Since a student-led movement toppled the Awami League government on August 5, garment workers from factories in Dhaka and its nearby districts have been protesting.

Members of law enforcing agencies, factory owners, the BGMEA, and labour leaders have met several times over the issue.

On Monday, members of the BGMEA held a meeting at the organisation's offices in Dhaka's Uttara. It was decided that factories would remain open and labour leaders gave assurances that they would give their support to maintaining a peaceful environment.

Despite this, about 50 factories have declared holidays since then amid the worker unrest. As many as 60 factories in Savar and Ashulia announced an indefinite closure from Wednesday.

An emergency meeting was held at the Secretariat under the circumstances, Asif Mahmud said.

The Anti-discrimination Student Movement convener turned adviser said that a committee would be formed to hear the demands of workers in one place. 

Meanwhile, Our Business Correspondent reports BGMEA president Khandaker Rafiqul Islam has expressed hope that the labour dissatisfaction in RMG and non-RMG sectors will be removed by next Saturday. At the same time, about 10 to 15 per cent of orders have gone to other countries.

He said these at the discussion meeting held on Wednesday at Ministry of Labour and Employment to review the situation of labour dissatisfaction in the RMG and non-RMG sectors and to take remedial measures.

Adviser to the Ministry of Labour and Employment Asif Mahmud chaired the meeting. Finance Adviser Saleh Uddin Ahmed, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen. (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Power and Energy Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Farida Akhtar, Adviser to Industry Adilur Rahman Khan and the secretaries of the respective ministries were present.

Khandkar Rafiqul Islam said, the factories have started beautifully. But a big company was due to pay on Tuesday. As they could not pay, the workers of that factory stopped working from Wednesday. Some nearby factories have been damaged. The factory workers are expected to get their salaries by evening. All factories will be able to run normally from next Saturday.

In response to the question of how many factories have been affected by the labour unrest, BGMEA President Khandaker Rafiqul Islam said there are 408 factories in Ashulia, Jirabo, Jirani zones. 40 to 60 factories in all these areas are closed due to labour unrest in the last few days. Some closures are intentional and some are due to workers dissatisfaction.


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