Factories, barring one, pay up

Workers of all garment factories, barring one, have received their salaries, BGMEA has claimed.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 14 Oct 2013, 01:35 PM
Updated : 14 Oct 2013, 01:37 PM

Acting president of the garment owners’ body SM Mannan Kachi made the announcement at a press conference on Monday in the backdrop of garment workers’ unrest over the past few days.

“We know that workers of almost all factories have been given their salaries and bonuses, and are enjoying their holiday. We faced some difficulty with 15 to 20 factories. Some owners were facing financial trouble and could not pay their workers in time.”

File Photo

 

Mannan Kachi said there were issues about bonuses in Mirpur’s Liberty Fashion Ware, two factories in Jirani Bazar and in Badda’s Tuba Textile.

“Tuba Group sold off machines to pay their workers. Liberty Fashion is trying its best to pay up.”

BGMEA said it was actively supervising 1,000 small and medium factories after learning from detective agencies about possible workers unrest ahead of Eid.

“The BGMEA and the government took joint measures to ensure that the workers got their dues before Eid. Nine regional committees were formed for the 3,000 factories in Dhaka, Gazipur, Savar, Ashulia, and Narayanganj.”

Former BGMEA president Salam Murshedi, who was also present at the press conference, said, “Buyer Tesco has cancelled its order with Liberty Fashion after declaring their building ineligible. That is why they are in a crisis and can’t pay their workers’ salary and bonus. We still hope the matter will be resolved.

A total 1,500 people are employed in Liberty Fashion’s Mirpur factory and 3,700 work in their Zirani Bazar factory.

Several worker organisations, in contrast to BGMEA, have claimed that workers from various factories including Savar’s My Stitch, Jurain’s Fateha Apparels are agitating to get their pay.