Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Tuesday told their members to close down factories under section 13/1 of the Labour Act if unrest continues.
President of the apparel trade body Faruque Hassan gave the statement in a press conference on the day.
Thousands of garment workers have been protesting at major readymade garment (RMG) industrial zones since October 23 demanding Tk23,000 as monthly minimum wage, after the RMG owners proposed Tk10,400 at the Minimum Wages Board on October 22.
Currently, the RMG workers' minimum wage is Tk8,000.
Although the strike was peaceful, it turned violent on October 29, and so far two workers were killed during clashes with law enforcers.
They also vandalized factories and vehicles.
Faruque Hassan also said that member factories will implement the new wage structure for garment workers by December as per the recommendation of the minimum wage board.
He also said almost every day, the factories are closing because of the ongoing unrest.
“If the situation continues, the factory owners will have no choice but to shut down their production units under section 13/1, which states that no work no pay,” he added.
However, Hassan said the factory owners are trying to continue the operation even in the face of unrest.
Hassan also said the wage board has the time to announce the salary until November 30.
“We are getting ready to implement the new wage structure that would be recommended by the wage board,” he added.
Earlier, the government formed the minimum wage board for garment workers on April 9 this year to recommend the new wage structure for garment workers.
He also said workers were being provoked by vested interest groups, even though there is no logic to agitate before the announcement of the new wage structure.
“We are deeply concerned, for the last few days, due to the instigation of outsiders, the workers in some garment factories are walking out of the factory without working, vandalizing the factory,” he added.
What is more worrying is that due to the provocation of outsiders, along with several leather factories, chemical warehouses, fabric warehouses, shops, and various institutions have also been damaged, he added.
He also said that the industry has reached its present stage only because of the contribution of the workers.
“I urge the workers not to do anything that tarnishes the image of the industry and destroys buyer confidence. If buyers turn away from the industry, the country will suffer and you will become unemployed, which is not desirable,” he added.
He also said that the workers should not be swayed by any provocation and should not engage in subversive activities in the garment industry.
“Do your work responsibly helping the industry to produce for the sake of the country. This industry belongs to all of us,” he added.
BCI President Anwar Ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez) said that the third party or vested interest groups are trying to destabilize the sector, they are not associated with the sector in any way.
“We have to resolve the problem,” he added.
Unrest continues
Meanwhile, garment workers near Purabi Cinema Hall in Mirpur protesting for a raise allegedly came under an attack on Tuesday morning, resulting in several injuries.
Soon after, the aggrieved garment workers attacked the factory, blocked the main road and vandalized a bus.
The protesters said they had been protesting for the last few days demanding an increase in their wages and some miscreants had attacked them.
Moreover, a group of agitators, protesting against the death of two workers and demanding a wage hike, on Tuesday set fire to a traffic police box, an electronic showroom, and a private hospital in Gazipur.
At this time, a clash ensued between the workers and police in Chandana, resulting in a chase and counter-chase.
The incident took place in the Chandra and Safipur areas of Kaliakair upazila on the Dhaka-Tangail highway on Tuesday afternoon.
According to eyewitnesses and the police, the agitated workers set fire to a traffic police box in Safipur. They also vandalized a Walton Plaza showroom and Safipur Tanha Hospital and several local shops.
