Apex Spinning resumes operations after worker unrest

"The board of directors has been able to reach a compromise with the protesters,” a company official says

The Apex Spinning and Knitting Mills Limited factory has reopened four days after it was temporarily closed due to worker unrest.

The factory for the 100 percent export-oriented company reopened on Saturday after the unrest ended.

The reopening of the factory has prevented the loss of 5,000 jobs.

The company informed investors on Sunday through the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), stating: "The factory has reopened after constructive discussions with all stakeholders. The factory was reopened from Saturday. The working environment is now normal."

Delwar Hossain, company secretary of Apex Spinning and Knitting Mills, told bdnews24.com: "The board of directors has been able to reach a compromise with the protesters. They (the protesters) also understood that the factory cannot continue to offer work if it is not open. The factory has reopened, everyone has rejoined work.''

Asked about what issues have been resolved, he said: ''An agreement has been reached. Not all issues have been resolved. The board of directors will discuss and resolve it.''

Previously, the board of directors had announced an indefinite closure of the factory from Jun 23 due to worker unrest.

Stating that leave was declared for workers and officials for an indefinite period under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, the company said: ''The factory has been declared closed due to worker dissatisfaction on the factory premises that seeking financial benefits outside the law. This directive will be applicable to both officials and workers.''

The company, which has a factory in Gazipur’s Kaliakoir employs about 5,000 people, including officials and workers.

A section of the company's employees have demanded that 15 months of basic wages be paid as a “service benefit” to those who have worked there for at least 10 years. They also called for seven-months’ pay as a service benefit for those who have worked five years or more.

The Department of Labour, labour representatives, and factory authorities held a meeting on Jun 15 regarding the demand, but no solution was found. A section of the workers had been protesting since Jun 22.

The company raked in net profits of Tk 30 million in 2025. It paid 20 percent cash dividends to investors that year and the share price was Tk 359.