Govt mulling legal step against Tuba Group

The government will take legal action against Tuba Group if it fails to pay workers their unpaid salaries in a day or two.

The workers have been on a hunger strike for the past six days.

State Minister for Labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Saturday night told bdnews24.com: "I have talked to relevant people. Now we are waiting to take action."

But Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar was hopeful that by Sunday workers could be given a “final assurance” about payment of their dues.

The workers started their strike on July 28, the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, inside the factory at the capital's Badda to press for overdue wages for the months of May, June and July.

Around 1,600 workers of Tuba’s five factories have been agitating at Dhaka's Badda, demanding payment of the salaries, overtime dues and allowances of these three months.

On Saturday, they also demonstrated on the road in front of the factory for two hours.

BGMEA made several promises to ensure that the workers’ dues were met, but in vain. The workers seem to have a pile of allegations against the apex body of the garment business.

The workers on Friday declared to continue their hunger strike until their demands are met despite many of their colleagues falling sick.

Junior labour minister Chunnu on Saturday said, "We are trying to resolve the problem with them (Tuba management and BGMEA) as we cannot find the owner."

"We have asked them to solve the problem within a day or two."

Readymade garment factory Tazreen Fashions which was gutted in a blaze killing 112 workers in 2012 belonged to the Tuba Group.

The group is owned by Delwar Hossain, who is currently in jail. But the High Court granted him bail on Thursday.

Chunnu claimed they have put some pressure on BGMEA to find a solution.

"I held a long meeting with BGMEA today (Saturday). They have been told that we will take legal measures if the matter is not resolved within one or two days," the minister said.

The labour secretary, however, told bdnews24.com that Tuba Group management and the apex body was working to pay the workers' unpaid salaries.

Asked whether the government would take any step to pay the dues to the workers, Mikail Shipar said, "The government don't have such fund. I am hopeful that workers will get a final assurance on Sunday."

Meanwhile, Garment Workers Solidarity Forum President Mushrefa Mishu said pro-Awami League Garments Workers-Staff League President Sirajul Islam Rony went to meet them on Saturday at the behest of state minister for labour.

"He asked whether the workers would end their strike if they were paid salaries of two months," said Mishu, who has been on the hunger strike along with the workers.

Asked about this, Mujibul Haque Chunnu said, "Government paying the workers is out of question. That's (Tuba Group) a private organisation. Why the government will pay their salaries?"