Workers of a garment factory staged a protest and blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway, demanding an increase in wages for production-based work, payment for leave as per labour laws and Eid bonuses.
Workers of Dynamic Sweater Industries Limited, located in the Ulail area of Savar, initiated the demonstration by obstructing the Dhaka-Aricha highway at around 11am on Monday.
The blockade led to severe traffic congestion on both lanes of the highway.
After nearly half an hour, at around 11:30am, the workers withdrew the blockade following the intervention of the army.
Although the demonstrators vacated the highway, a section of agitated workers began pelting stones at Unlima Textile Limited, another nearby factory.
Law enforcement authorities promptly intervened and dispersed the crowd.
During the incident, Unlima Textile personnel detained two female workers involved in the attack and handed them over to the police.
Expressing their grievances, the protesting workers said that most of them are employed on a production-based wage system.
Recently, without any prior notice, the factory management unilaterally reduced their per-piece payment rates.
Furthermore, they alleged that the factory does not pay leave allowances and Eid bonuses in accordance with labour laws.
The workers had been trying to engage in discussions with the management over these issues for the past few days.
However, on the morning of the protest, despite being promised a meeting, they found the factory closed for two days.
Frustrated, they took to the regional road adjacent to the factory before eventually moving to the Dhaka-Aricha highway to stage their demonstration.
Aklima, a linking operator at the factory, highlighted the wage reductions, saying: "Previously, we were paid Tk26 per piece for a certain task, but now it has been reduced to Tk21. Similarly, another task that used to pay Tk23 per piece now only pays Tk16. Normally, wage rates increase over time, but in our factory, they are being reduced."
She added: "Leave allowances and Eid bonuses are paid at lower rates than what is legally mandated. We have repeatedly requested a discussion with the factory management, but they have ignored us. Today (Monday), instead of meeting with us as promised, they shut down the factory for two days. Left with no other choice, we took to the highway to press for our demands."
Speaking at the scene, additional superintendent of Police (Savar Circle), Md Shahinur Kabir, said that while the workers had blocked the highway to press their demands, the authorities did not find their grievances entirely justified.
Following discussions with both the army and the factory management, the owners agreed to negotiate with the workers regarding their concerns, prompting the demonstrators to clear the highway.
He further added: "Despite vacating the highway, a section of workers attempted to vandalize Unlima Textile by throwing bricks and stones. We intervened and dispersed them. Additionally, two female workers were detained by Unlima Textile personnel, and we have taken them into police custody."
A meeting between the factory management and the workers to address their demands has been scheduled for 2pm on Tuesday, according to the police official.
