Cabinet lauds BGMEA move to reopen RMG units closed amid workers' unrest

The government has praised the BGMEA , that represents garment factory owners , for reopening factories, five days after they were shut down amid unrest for pay hike.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said after Monday's regular Cabinet meeting that the government lauded the decision.
 
Replying to a mediaperson's query, he, however, said that according to the RMG workers' wage board provisions, the time for a pay-revision is still some time away.
 
On Dec 12, workers of two readymade garment factories in the industrial hub on the outskirts of Dhaka enforced a strike for a 16-point charter of demand, including a minimum Tk 16,000 in monthly wages.
 
The workers clashed with police during their demonstration and allegedly went on the rampage inside the factories.
 

As the unrest spread, workers of 25 factories stopped working on Dec 19. Several ministers tried negotiations with the workers' organisations but failed to reach any settlement.

After the workers of 55 factories stopped working on Dec 20, the owners closed down their manufacturing plants indefinitely.

More than 1,000 workers have been accused of instigation, trespassing, vandalism and theft in seven cases started over the unrest so far.

Police have arrested 19 workers' leaders and a journalist for alleged incitement.

The factories have also fired workers. Ha-Meem Group dismissed 91 on Sunday.

Earlier, Windy Apparels Limited and Fountain Garments Manufacturing Limited laid off 256 workers.

Following a five-day stand-off, the BGMEA on Sunday announced that the closed factories will be reopened.

At a media briefing, BGMEA president Md Siddiqur Rahman said the decision came on orders from the prime minister and after request from 30 workers' organisations.

On Monday, Cabinet Secretary Alam said the government welcomed the move. "The closure would cost us millions and pose problems for both the owners and workers."
 
Asked whether the Cabinet discussed on a revising workers' wage, Alam said there are provisions to revise and update it in the existing pay structure.
 
"The stage for that process (revision) is yet to come," he clarified.
 
The minimum wage was raised to Tk 5,300 for the last time in November 2013.