Workers of the Smug Sweater factory in Gazipur staged a protest on Friday by blocking the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway for three hours, demanding an increase in Eid bonuses and a ban on arbitrary layoffs.
The protest, which took place from 9am to noon in the Telipara area, caused severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway, leading to immense suffering for passengers and drivers.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Traffic Division Additional Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ashok Kumar Pal confirmed the incident.
The protesting workers listed the following 14 demands: payment of overtime wages; maternity leave for female workers; night allowance of Tk190; tiffin allowance; payment for annual (earned) leave; dinner allowance of Tk100; full basic salary as Eid bonus; service benefit payments; minimum wage of Tk12,500; ban on arbitrary layoffs; 25% production bonus; proper determination of work rates; and resignation of the factory general manager; resignation of the production manager.
Basan police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kaiser Ahmed said that upon receiving information about the blockade, Industrial Police, Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP), and army personnel arrived at the scene.
They persuaded the workers to clear the highway, allowing traffic to resume at noon, he added.
Currently, police and administrative officials are discussing the workers’ demands with the factory authorities, Kaiser told Dhaka Tribune.
Industrial Police Inspector Faruk Hossain reported that the factory authorities have paid salaries and bonuses following government labour laws.
However, the workers are protesting to demand a full bonus equal to their salary, he said, adding that the factory employs around 300 workers.
Despite attempts, no response could be obtained from the factory authorities regarding the matter.