The Industrial Police has claimed that almost all garment factories have paid their workers’ salaries and bonuses before Eid. According to the Industrial Police’s report released yesterday evening (March 29), 97.16 percent of factories have paid February’s wages, with only 2.84 percent still pending. For March, 84.53 percent of factories have paid wages, and 15.47 percent are still outstanding. As for the Eid-ul-Fitr bonus, 97.06 percent of factories have paid, leaving 2.94 percent unpaid.
AHM Shafiquzzaman, Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, also confirmed that nearly all factories have cleared workers’ salaries and bonuses. After a meeting at the Labor Ministry yesterday, he said, “This year, the government invested BDT 22.50 billion, helping 99.5 percent of establishments clear their outstanding wages. This is unprecedented.”
Workers from three companies of the TNZ Group have been staging a sit-in outside the Labor Ministry for seven days, demanding their salaries, allowances, and bonuses before Eid. Their protest continued yesterday. The authorities proposed a temporary fund of BDT 20 million to address their demands, but the workers rejected this offer. They are insisting that all outstanding dues be cleared before Eid. If their demands are not met, they have announced they will continue their protest outside the Labor Ministry even on Eid day.
Meanwhile, in the Baymail area of Konabari Thana in Gazipur City Corporation, over a hundred workers from a factory protested and blocked a major highway in protest against mass layoffs. Similarly, in Sirajganj’s Rayganj, workers from a factory blocked a highway demanding their wages and Eid bonuses.
The workers protesting outside the Labor Ministry yesterday accused the management of the TNZ Group of spreading false news on March 27, claiming that workers’ wages and allowances were paid from the sale of company vehicles. However, the workers say they have not received their pay yet. They also claim that they are owed three months’ salary and Eid bonuses, which they have not received.
Yesterday afternoon, during the ongoing protest, Labor Secretary AHM Safiquzzaman, held a meeting at the Labor Ministry. The meeting was attended by representatives from BGMEA, labor movement leaders, three representatives from TNZ Group including the company’s director Shariful Islam Shahin, labor leaders from Apparel Plus Eco Limited including Shahidul, Rekha Akter Tinny, Shiuli, a 15-member delegation, and law enforcement officers.
During the meeting, the Secretary and the TNZ Group director decided to temporarily arrange BDT 20 million from the sale of machines to pay the workers’ salaries. Additionally, they decided to meet with TNZ Group management and workers again on April 8, after Eid, to resolve all outstanding issues before May Day. Until then, TNZ Group director Shahin and two other officials will remain in the custody of the Labor Department. However, the protesting workers rejected this decision and announced that they would continue their protest.
After the meeting, Secretary Safiquzzaman told journalists, “At the beginning of this month, we instructed all factory owners to pay their workers’ salaries and allowances. Those who couldn’t pay by March 27 will not be allowed to travel abroad, and we will take legal action against them. We’ve solved most of the issues by March 27. We have partially resolved TNZ’s issues with other companies. On March 27, BDT 10.5 million was paid through bank transactions. After hearing their situation, we provided them with BDT 160 million. Now, we hear that there is still BDT 170 million outstanding. This can’t go on like this. Workers are protesting. For now, we’ve arranged BDT 20 million so the workers can go home. We will resolve everything before May Day after Eid. During this time, the director and two other officials will remain in our custody.”
He added, “This year, the government invested BDT 22.50 billion, helping 99.5 percent of establishments clear their outstanding wages, which is unprecedented. The remaining 0.5 percent includes TNZ. The unresolved issues in a few places are why we have made this arrangement today. I hope the workers will accept this solution.”
The workers’ representatives rejected the Secretary’s announcement and declared that they would continue their protest. Shahidul Islam, a labor leader, said, “According to today’s announcement, the workers will receive BDT 6,000 each. We do not accept this decision. We will continue our protest in front of the Labor Ministry until all our dues are paid. This will continue even on Eid day. We will take more strict actions today. If necessary, we will march to the residence of the Chief Adviser.”
The Industrial Police reported that most factories, including those under BGMEA and other organizations, have paid workers their Eid bonuses and March salaries. With the help of the industrial police, and through their sincere efforts and close supervision, workers in the industrial sector have found some relief regarding their salaries and bonuses. However, some factories, including TNZ, have not been able to pay their bonuses or salaries.
Meanwhile, in the Baymail area under the Konabari police station in Gazipur City Corporation, over a hundred workers from a factory protested and blocked the highway in response to layoffs. According to Mohammad Nazrul Islam, the officer-in-charge of Konabari Police, workers from Standard Eastis Oven Factory began their protest early in the morning and later blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway. Traffic was halted for about half an hour before the police arrived at the scene, convinced the workers to clear the road, and brought the situation under control.
In Sirajganj’s Raiganj, workers from the RR Spinning & Cotton Mill factory also staged a protest and blocked the highway, demanding their salaries and Eid bonuses. Upon receiving the news, military personnel arrived and held talks with both the owners and the workers. Following the military’s assurances, the workers lifted their blockade. The protest took place on the Dhaka-Bogura highway in front of the factory in Bhuiyagati area around 2:30 pm yesterday.
Lieutenant Colonel Junayed Bin Kabir from the 11th Infantry Division of Bogura Cantonment said, “The army is working to ensure safety and manage traffic on the highway. We are doing everything we can to prevent any inconvenience for people traveling home for Eid.”
Abdur Rouf, the Officer-in-Charge of Hatikumrul Highway Police Station, said, “The workers had blocked the highway as they hadn’t received their salaries and Eid bonuses. The highway police and the army went to the scene, explained the situation to the workers, and cleared the road. Traffic is now back to normal.”
Abdul Mannan, the Deputy General Manager (DGM) of RR Spinning & Cotton Mill, stated, “Over 400 workers are employed at the factory. None of them have any salary arrears. However, since this month’s salaries have not been paid, the workers blocked the highway.”
This report was contributed by our Gazipur and Sirajganj correspondents.