Garment sector returning to normalcy

After three weeks of unrest, the situation in Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) industry is returning to normalcy with the workers joining work as the demands have been met.

According to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), 98.6% of 2,144 garment factories across the country were operational on Wednesday.

A total of 30 garment factories, however, remained closed on the day. Of them, 27 were in Savar, Ashulia and Jirani area and three in Gazipur.

Sixteen factories in Ashulia were closed under the Section 13 (1) of the Labour Act, BGMEA said.

The apex trade body in the country’s garment sector also stated that 2,033 factories cleared salaries and allowances for the month of August.

BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel said overall some 94.82% of the factories under the BGMEA cleared all the dues up to August.

He added that workers of the factories were on leave with wages. The factories include Mascot Garments, Mascot Knits, Mascot Fashions, Lusaka Group, Radiance Knitwears Ltd, Setara Group, New Age Group, Shams Attires Ltd, Global Knitwear Ltd, Fun Factory Ltd, and Knit Asia Ltd.

Superintendent of Police (SP) of Ashulia Industrial Police-1 Mohammad Sarowar Alam said he did not see any major incident in the area on Wednesday but the workers of some factories were yet to resume work.

He added that on Tuesday, a worker of Mascot Group, Rokeya Begum, died after she got struck by brick chips hurled during the clash.

Owners should meet workers’ demands

Talking to the Daily Sun, Bangladesh Garment Workers Trade Union Centre general secretary Joly Talukder said that the garment factories’ owners should meet all demands coming from the workers. “They (workers) did not place any illogical demands.”

“We all want factories to remain open to run the wheel of the country’s economy. The workers raised small demands. Those can be met easily,” she said.

The workers leader added that the problems began at the factories whose owners are the Awami League supporters. “The complexities increased as the issues were not resolved timely.”

Another worker leader Nazma Akter said the labour unrest situation was improving as some demands were met by factory owners. She said the law and order situation has improved in the factory areas.

BGMEA Director Md. Ashikur Rahman Tuhin said, “We saw a lot of dissatisfaction among workers in previous years, when workers brought out processions (to press home their demands).”

“But this year’s demonstration of workers is different. There are no specific demands of workers. I think that the demonstration is being motivated by a vested quarter.” 

He said that the BGMEA members, however, met almost all of the workers’ demands and even some of the demands met were beyond the labour law rights.

“We met the demands of allowances, tiffins, and ensuring skill-based appointment process,” he said.

BGMEA Vice President Rakibul Alam Chowdhury also confirmed the situation was gradually improving in the industrial areas.

“We hope that all factories will be reopened after the situation is fully normal. But the decision will depend on workers and owners,” he said.

“We did not see any workers’ demonstration in factories on Wednesday,” added Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, also managing director of HKC Apparels Ltd.

He informed that 11 factories remained closed under a “no work, no pay” provision of the labour law.

“And the rest of the factories have been closed on their own.”

In 2023, the country’s RMG export worldwide reached $47.39 billion, with 3.67% growth compared to 2022.