Tuba workers threaten to strike down clothing factories across Bangladesh

Tuba Group workers have threatened to strike down all readymade garment factories across Bangladesh on Saturday if their five-point charter of demand is not met by Thursday.

Tuba Group Sramik Sangram (workers' action) Committee Convenor Moshrefa Mishu declared their plans on Wednesday afternoon.

They will also demonstrate across the country on Thursday and Friday.

Mishu made the announcements from a fifth floor window of the Tuba factory in Hossain Market at Dhaka's Badda using microphone.

She alleged police obstructed them from holding a press conference on the ground floor.

The law enforcers have positioned themselves in front of Hossain Market since Wednesday morning.

At noon, police pushed around 25 protesters out of the factory claiming they were 'outsiders' and not workers.

While Mishu was announcing the programmes, workers threw notes from the building where they said they would not mind taking two months' salaries if the owners or BGMEA came to the factory and paid them.

Around 1,600 workers of the five Tuba Group factories have been on a hunger strike for a straight nine days at the Badda factory to press for payment of three months’ salaries, overtime dues and allowances.

Following the government's mediation, BGMEA urged the workers to end the hunger strike pledging payment of two months’ wages and allowances on Wednesday, but the call was rejected.

According to the apex body of garment factory owners, as many as 326 workers went to BGMEA building between 10am and 5pm to receive their dues.

However, police started a raid on Hossain Market in the morning to 'clear out' activists of various labour organisations who have been protesting with the workers.

Agitating Tuba workers' five demands are -- immediate payment of unpaid wages, overtime and Eid bonuses, factories be kept open so that over 1,500 workers can retain their livelihood, compensation for workers who have fallen ill, 'cancellation' of Tuba Group Managing Director Delwar Hossain’s bail and compensation for the victims of Tazreen Fashions fire.

Hossain was in jail in a case filed over the deaths of 112 workers of readymade garment factory Tazreen Fashions, which was gutted in a blaze in 2012. The Group owned Tazreen Fashions.

However, Hossain secured bail from the High Court on July 24 and was released Tuesday.