State Minister Chunnu threatens tough measures if workers continue protests

The state minister for labour has threatened garment workers with tough measures if they do not return to their jobs.

Workers in Ashulia factories have been on strike for two days demanding Tk 16,000 as minimum wage.

State Minister Mujibul Haque Chunnu held a press conference at the Secretariat on Tuesday, urging workers to immediately return to their workplaces.

“We’ll take legal actions if they don't heed to my request,” he said.

The workers from garment factories at Jamgarha, Beron, Baipail and Narsinghapur of Ashulia industrial area have been holding protests over low wages, high rents and job losses during the past eight days.

Chunnu told reporters that many of the workers are not aware of the reasons behind the strike.

He said that minimum wage was raised several times in the past. Demands, he said, must to be presented in line with the labour laws.

But the government so far has not received any demand from the workers, he said.

“We are saying that if the trade unions and federation are not aware of this programme, then who are the people behind the protest?

“We will find out who these people are who are intentionally causing damage to this vital sector.”