Over 500 garment factories in Dhaka, Gazipur, and Savar were temporarily closed due to ongoing worker protests demanding a minimum wage increase. The president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Mr. Faruque Hassan, expressed hope that the workers would return to work on Saturday; otherwise, they might face permanent factory closures.
State Minister for Labour and Employment, Munnujan Sufian, stated that the proposed minimum wage for ready-made garment workers by factory owners was considered unreasonable. The Ministry of Labour would submit recommendations to the wage board to determine an acceptable wage in line with market rates.
A rationing system for garment workers was planned, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina supported this decision. The wage board was expected to reach a decision through discussions with both parties, with the prime minister making the final decision if no consensus was reached.
Worker representatives insisted that acceptable wages should be announced promptly to ensure workers return to work, as delays and unacceptable wages could harm both the industry and its workers. The unrest led to the closure of numerous factories, with sporadic incidents of violence.
Joint patrols involving the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were initiated to address the unrest. Some expressed concerns that the ongoing unrest in the garment industry was detrimental to the sector. Despite efforts by the government, workers’ leaders, and owners’ associations to normalize the situation, garment workers had been protesting for a week, demanding a minimum wage increase to Tk 23,000. The workers’ demand was in contrast to the owners’ proposal of Tk 10,400. During the protests, clashes between police and workers led to casualties, with at least two people killed and approximately 40 injured. Notably, a worker who was initially believed to be dead was found alive, raising questions about the accuracy of reports during the clashes.
Comment here