All readymade garment (RMG) manufacturing units in the Ashulia area have resumed operations, as workers returned to their factories peacefully.
Only a factory which was closed till November 14, will start production from November 15 as the workers expressed their willingness to join work.
Moreover, the workers from three closed factories of Gazipur’s Kashimpur and Konabari areas also wanted to rejoin work, thus those have also been reopened.
Production is currently running normally in all factories in Kashimpur and Konabari areas, the statement added.
Earlier, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said on November 12 that the RMG factories would only reopen if workers joined the production procedures peacefully by shunning the ongoing unrest.
In the statement, Faruque Hassan said that in response to the call of the BGMEA, workers in Ashulia, Kashimpur and Konabari joined work peacefully.
However, some RMG manufacturing units in Mirpur are still closed and the BGMEA is discussing the situation with these factories as well.
“If the workers want to work, the factories will be reopened when the situation is normal,” he added.
He urged the law enforcement agencies to provide all sorts of security to the industrial establishments including garment factories.
The BGMEA also urged the implementation of proper law and order and a peaceful environment in the industrial hubs by taking strict measures for the safety of life and property.
“I specifically request law enforcers to work carefully so that any workers or employees and owners aren’t subjected to any kind of harassment,” he added.
He also said that they believe the workers, the workers’ organizations, the government, local political leaders, administration, industrial police, all law enforcement agencies and the local public had unanimous cooperation to advance the industry which generated 4.4 million job opportunities.
All stakeholders have kept the industry alive by supporting the industry through fostering solidarity in the industry from their respective positions, he added.
As of November 12, 130 factories have been shut under Section 13(1) of the Labour Act to avoid any vandalism due to the ongoing unrest in the sector which has started since October 23, demanding a higher minimum wage for RMG workers.
Protests in major RMG industrial hubs like Mirpur, Savar, Ashulia, Konabari, Gazipur and Kashimpur, which broke out on October 23 turned violent, resulting in road blockades, vandalism, torching of factories and other infrastructures and also claimed the lives of four workers.
The government fixed Tk12,500 as the minimum wage for workers at the last meeting of the Minimum Wages Board on November 7 and issued a gazette notification on the draft proposal on November 12.