Ashulia apparel factories reopen after five days

The readymade garment factories, shut down in Ashulia following workers agitation for a three-fold hike in minimum wages and for other benefits, have reopened.

Savar Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 26 Dec 2016, 04:31 AM
Updated : 26 Dec 2016, 09:38 AM

Industrial police's Ashulia zone Director Mostafizur Rahman said operations resumed at 55 factories on Monday after they had downed their shutters five days ago.

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 minimum wage was raised to Tk 5,300 for the last time in November 2013.

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.

Following a five-day stand-off, the BGMEA on Sunday
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.

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 are also firing workers. Ha-Meem Group dismissed 91 on Sunday.

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