The queue of Tuba Group workers present to pick up overdue wages for the month of May and June, promised by the BGMEA, increased after the law enforcers yesterday evacuated its factory building by charging batons on the agitating workers around noon.
In the morning, the flow of workers at the BGMEA headquarters was very thin. Until around 11:30am, only 60 workers went there to receive wages.
BGMEA officials said the presence had been low since a group of workers were still continuing their hunger strike demanding all the due wages, overtime and Eid bonuses together by today.
On Wednesday, as many as 583 out of over 1,200 agitating workers drew their wages from the BGMEA office in Karwan Bazar. Until yesterday, a total of 1,475 workers drew two months’ wages.
The police yesterday forcibly evicted the workers – who were on fast-unto-death for the 10th consecutive day – from the building in the capital’s Badda around 12:30pm while the flow in the BGMEA office got momentum around 2pm.
“As the police ousted Mushrefa Mishu, leader of the demonstration, we became helpless and decided to pick up the wages fearing that we might miss the wages otherwise,” said Aklima Begum who led a small group of workers from the factory to the BGMEA office.
Until 3:30pm, a total 450 workers received their two months’ wages.
“There was no alternative and we had to take the wages as I had to pay rent for the last two months,” Karima Akter said.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Hoque Chunnu said the wages for the month of July would be paid on Sunday. He made the announcement at a press conference held at the BGMEA headquarters.
The BGMEA leaders, the shipping minister and Chunnu held a meeting with Delowar Hossain, the managing director of Tuba Group, to devise
ways on how to manage funds in order to pay the dues for the month of July at a city hotel yesterday, BGMEA Vice-President Reaz Bin Mahmood told the Dhaka Tribune.
“We told Delowar that he has to pay the wages of July by August 10. ‘We do not know how you will mange it,’” Chunnu said.
The government would take necessary action if the owner failed to pay the dues. “If necessary, the dues will paid by selling properties of Delowar,” the state minister added.
On August 3, Shipping Minister Shahjahan khan announced that the dues of May and June would be given on August 6 and of July on August 10 on the BGMEA premises.