A section of workers’ leaders are now trying to convince the agitating workers from Tuba Group to accept BGMEA’s terms after they refused the offer and demanded the full payment of all dues by today.
The workers have threatened tougher movements if all their dues were not paid by the afternoon today.
“I have spoken to several workers and they have agreed to accept payments for May and June, as proposed by the BGMEA,” said Nahidul Islam Noyon, general secretary of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation.
“We have four unions in the Tuba Group factories and 90% of its workers are members,” he said adding that the workers would take the money as they were in need of it.
When asked how many workers had agreed to the BGMEA proposal, Nahid said: “My colleagues are working on it now and tomorrow I will be able to tell you the exact number of workers who will be present there.”
“There are six to seven worker organisations active in the Tuba Group factories and they are now working to convince the workers to accept the proposal,” Badruddoza Nizam, member secretary of Garment Sramik Somonnoy Parishad, told the Dhaka Tribune.
However, this correspondent found that many of the workers were yet to be approached by the leaders for a formal invitation to accept the BGMEA proposal. At the same time, many workers also said they would not accept the offer, fearing a further halt of previous dues.
“One of my colleagues had proposed that I accept the BGMEA proposal, but I have rejected the offer as in the past we have seen that the BGMEA has always failed to keep their pledges, which included the payment of wages and dues before Eid,” said Faruk Hossain, a worker of Tuba Group.
He also claimed that the persuasive approach of workers’ leaders would not yield any outcome as most workers would not comply with the BGMEA’s terms.
Earlier, on Sunday, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan announced that the BGMEA would pay the wages of the workers for May and June at the BGMEA building in the capital today.
“On August 10, factory authorities will clear the workers’ wages for July. The other dues will also be cleared soon,” said Shahjahan, who is also the convenor of Garment Sramik Somonnoy Parishad, after attending a meeting with BGMEA and labour leaders.
According to a BGMEA source, there are 1,488 worker in five factories of Tuba Group and around Tk2.34 crore is needed to pay salaries for two months.
“We have taken all the necessary steps to pay two months’ salaries to the Tuba Group workers and the fund has been managed,” BGMEA Vice President Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune.
Later, in a statement, the BGMEA announced that wages for May and June of Tuba Group, including Tuba Fashion, Tuba Textile, Mita Design, Taif Design and Bughsan Garmentsto would be paid today at the BGMEA headquarters at 9am. It also urged the workers to take their wages within the stipulated time.
At least 1,200 workers from five factories under the Tuba Group have been on a hunger strike for nine consecutive days at the Hossain Market in the capital’s Badda area, demanding the payment of three months’ wages, overtime and Eid bonuses. The five factories require around Tk4.13 crore to pay all arrears.