Workers told the Dhaka Tribune they felt the need to agitate for minimum wage increases or else the government would never pay heed to their demands. They said scheduled rallies were not always effective.
A demand for a living wage made by a labour organisation last month appears to be behind the Ashulia labour showdown that led to owner-initiated shutdowns of 55 factories on December 20.
The next day, the number of factory closures under Article 13(1) of the Labour Act reached 84.
Torn rally posters featuring speaker Soumitra Kumar Das, president of the Savar-Ashulia-Dhamrai regional committee of the Garment Labourers Front (GLF), were plainly visible in the vicinity of the factories that have halted operations yesterday.
Widespread postering for the conference preceded the rally.
The rally held in front of Fantasy Kingdom Jamgora on November 25 called for a minimum wage of Tk15,000, among other things.
Soumitra was arrested by law enforcers on Wednesday on charge of provoking garment workers to create political unrest, according to Ashulia OC Mohsinul Kadir.
According to the posters, the GLF claimed it would submit a memorandum to State Minister for Labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu demanding a Tk15,000 minimum wage for garments workers.
Workers of nearby factories, who asked not to be named, told the Dhaka Tribune that the demand simmered for two weeks before erupting into the first of several incidents of labour unrest.
Workers told the Dhaka Tribune that on December 11, they heard that their colleagues were demanding a wage hike.
This localised demand spiralled into a full-blown strike, garnering broad support from other garments workers.
The factory remained closed for four days after clashes took place between police and workers.
On December 17, the factory’s owners, Bangladesh Police Dhaka Range Additional Deputy Commissioner of police Shafique and the Superintendent of Industrial Police sat with the agitating workers.
A female worker name Razia was injured during clashes on December 14 said she received Tk2,000 from the owners. Factory owners also arranged lunch for workers on December 18 and 19.
Outside workers have tried to benefit from the largesse shown by some factory owners.
One female worker told the Dhaka Tribune that as she was returning to her factory, outside workers tried to beat her as she took lunch items from their garment authorities.
On December 19, workers received word that other workers linked to the strike leaders were forcing everybody to leave the factory immediately.
The next day, the factories were announced closed by their respective owners.
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
