Garment workers in Gazipur demonstrate for full payment of wages

Workers of several apparel factories in Gazipur continued their protests on Monday demanding full payment of their wages.

Apart from abstaining from work, they also vandalised in some factories. DBL Group had to close one of its garment factories, Zinnat garment factory, for two days in the face of the protest. 

Sushanta Kumar, additional superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police, said the owners of Zinnat garment factory decided to pay its approximately 13,000 workers only 60 percent of their wages during the lockdown, in compliance with the country's labour law.  

But the workers did not agree to the proposal, and continued to protest for the last few days demanding full payment. 

On Monday, workers came to the office in the morning and started demonstrating in front of the factory gate at around 9am. They remained there till the afternoon and vandalised factory items and windows, said Sushanta. But the owner did not agree to full payment and announced the closure of the factory. Later police reached the spot and brought the situation under control. 

Meanwhile, Gazipur Industrial Police Inspector Islam Hossain said the workers of the Bay footwear factory abstained from work and brought out a protest in the Konabari area of the city. However, workers returned to work after the factory owners assure them of payment according to the government directive. 

In a separate incident, workers of Far East Knitting & Dyeing Industries in the Palli Bidyut area of Kaliakair demonstrated for hours on the same demand.

Gazipur Industrial Police Inspector Rezaul Karim said the factory was supposed to pay its workers on Monday, according to an earlier decision. The factory sent 60 percent of the wages to the workers' mobile accounts in compliance with government rules. 

But the workers did not accept it and continued the protest, demanding full payment. Later, the police brought the situation under control.