Workers of Utah Garment Factory protested by blocking the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur on Thursday, demanding an extension of their upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holiday from nine days to 11 days.
As a result, traffic on both sides of the road came to a standstill, causing difficulties for drivers, passengers, and the general public.
Workers occupied the highway in front of the factory in the Monipur area of the Gazipur Sadar upazila, blocking the road from 9am for about 45 minutes.
Gazipur Industrial Police Inspector Abdul Latif and Salna Highway police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Saleh Ahmed said that upon receiving the news, highway police, industrial police, and the army arrived at the scene.
When they assured the workers that discussions would be held with the factory authorities regarding their demands, the workers withdrew from the highway, and traffic resumed at 9:50am.
The protesting workers said the factory authorities announced a nine-day holiday for the upcoming Eid.
Upon hearing this, over 100 workers stopped work around 8:30am, came down from the production floor, and started protesting inside the factory.
Eventually, at around 9am, they moved onto the highway and blocked the road.
Upon receiving the news, highway police, industrial police, and the army arrived and moved them back inside the factory.
The workers further said that the factory authorities have already made them work extra hours to compensate for the additional holidays beyond the government-declared leave.
They said out of the nine days of leave, one is a Friday, which is their weekly day off. They asked how can the factory count that as part of our holiday.
Inspector Abdul Latif said the army and industrial police are in discussions with the factory authorities regarding the workers' demands.
The Utah factory authorities declined to comment on the matter to journalists.
