RMG workers hold demo, demand full April salary

Thousands of workers of about 20 garment factories on Sunday staged demonstrations in Dhaka, Ashulia, Gazipur, and Chattogram demanding arrears and full payment of their wages for April.

However, the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Sunday said only those who were at work for the entire month of April will get full salary.

Workers who worked partly will get full salary for the working days and 65 percent for the rest of the days, the ministry said, adding that 60 percent of their salary will be paid before Eid, while the remaining 5 percent will be adjusted with the salary for May.

In Ashulia, several thousand workers of seven apparel factories went on work abstention after blocking roads in demand for full payment of their April salary.

Those seven factories are Nava Knit Composite Ltd, The Rose Dresses Ltd (Islam Group), Magpie Knit Composite Ltd, Sterling Creation Ltd (Starling Group), Rai & Rai Apparels Ltd, Yagi Bangladesh Garments Ltd, and Hameem Group.

Industrial police officials said about 35,000 workers of those factories have been demonstrating for the last few days in demand for full payment of their April wages. 

Meanwhile, around 300 workers of Basis Garments on Sunday blocked roads at Mirpur-10 area in the capital with the same demand.

Khairul Amin, assistant commissioner of Mirpur Zone of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police said, the workers were protesting from 10am on the day.

One of the protesters, Zakaria told The Business Standard, "We want full salary for April, as per Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association's (BGMEA) decision. But the garment authorities want to pay 60 percent of our wages."

"We will continue our protest until our demand is met," he added.

In Chattogram, workers of Sitakunda's Mars Textile Limited staged a protest demanding full payment of their salary.

"The workers started the demonstration this morning after they had come to know that they would be paid 60 percent of their April salary. Later, we had a meeting with both parties, where the owner agreed to make full payment," said Firoz Hossain Molla, officer-in-charge of Sitakunda Police Station.

The workers returned to their work after hearing the decision, he added.

Meanwhile, workers of Ding Dong Textile Ltd at the Chattogram Export Processing Zone, and Seven Section Ltd demonstrated demanding full payment of April salary. Workers of Papela Ltd and Gemini Fashion Ltd in the port city staged demonstrations in demand of salary for March and April.

In Gazipur, workers of Doreen Group blocked a road demanding full salary for April, while workers of Elegance Garments Ltd blocked a road demanding overtime and arrear salary.

Workers of Louietex Manufacturing Limited and Durant Knit Composite staged demonstrations in front of their respective factories demanding arrears and full payment for April.

Meanwhile, workers of Indozer Sweater Ltd took to the street in protest of the beating up of a security guard of their factory by some outsiders on Saturday.

According to the directive of the labour and employment ministry, factory owners will not terminate or lay off any workers before Eid-ul-Fitr.

The BGMEA in a statement issued on Saturday requested its members not to retrench any worker in May.

Apparel workers who didn't work in April will get 60 percent of their gross salary and another 5 percent will be adjusted with the salary for May.

Meanwhile, workers who have rejoined work will receive 100 percent payment for the days they worked, the BGMEA stated.