The workers of five garment factories under Tuba Group are in dark about their job security since those were already facing crisis of funds while the recent agitations for dues have brought the matter to the forefront.
Neither the factory owner nor the BGMEA or the government, who have been mediating to pay the workers’ dues, did not make it clear whether these factories would be in operation any longer.
There are around 1,500 workers in these five factories, which are currently shut as the workers went on hunger strike on July 28 demanding three months’ outstanding wages, overtime and Eid bonuses.
The factories are Tuba Fashion, Tuba Textile, Mita Design, Taif Design and Bughsan Garments.
At a meeting yesterday, the government, the BGMEA, the factory management and labour leaders decided to pay due wages for the month of July and overtime for the last three months from today. But the meeting did not discuss the issues of running the factories and payment of the current month.
The wages for May and June have already been paid by the BGMEA.
The Tuba Group had 12 RMG units and of them, five were shut since the devastating fire incident at its Tazreen Fashions killed over 112 workers on November 24, 2012.
Of the seven units operational now, only two factories – Tuba Garments and Tuba Printing – are running properly and there is no unrest since the workers are paid regularly. But the five other factories in operation are in trouble since they do not have enough orders to pay the wages, officials say.
“I have already got the wages for two months and hope that the rest will also be paid. But frustration has gripped me about the continuation of my job,” Kamal Hossain, a worker of the Tuba Group, told the Dhaka Tribune.
He said it would be tough for him to get another job immediately if the factory management decided to announce lay off. “The garment owners have somewhat stopped recruiting workers after the implementation of the new wage structure,” Kamal added.
Meanwhile, a section of workers of Tuba Group have decided to quit work fearing uncertainty. Since several units had been shut earlier due to crisis of funds, they fear that these five factories may also be closed.
“We had promised to pay the wages for the last three months and the overtime dues. The matter is solved as the dues for July will be paid on Sunday,” BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune.
Asked about the workers’ job security, Azim said: “It is matter of the factory management.”
State Minister for Labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu said: “It is not our duty to see whether the factories will run or shut.”
He told the Dhaka Tribune: “It was our duty to ensure the payments and we have done it. If the factory owners decide to shut the units, then the workers’ dues will have to be paid as per the law.”
Though the factory owner, Delowar Hossain, is freed from jail on bail, he is yet to make any decision over running the factories.
“The factory owner was running the factories even giving subsidies to keep those operational. But the recent unrest may prompt the owner to lay off,” a manager of a sister concern of Tuba Group, who preferred not to be named, told the Dhaka Tribune.
He said: “Through subcontracts, the factory can earn 80% of the total wages to be paid, while the remaining was paid by the owner. As there is crisis of funds, the decision on keeping the factories operational will be made after the payment of all dues by Sunday.”
Amjad, manager of Tuba Printing, said: “The management is yet to decide on the five factories. But I have came to know that the decision may be taken after paying the due wages.”
Another official said several orders of subcontract had been withdrawn following the agitations which might be another reason for the owner to shut the factories.
