Hundreds of readymade garment (RMG) workers blocked roads in Mirpur and Kalabagan areas in the city for about three hours on Monday, demanding a hike in salary and food facilities.
Agitated workers of Misami-Bitopi, Youth Groups and Akik Apparels Ltd at Shewrapara took to the streets at about 9 am. They staged demonstrations by blocking roads, resulting in long traffic tailbacks from Mirpur-12 to Kazipara, Agargaon and Taltola. Owners announced a general holiday at the factories in the face of the protest. Traffic movement was suspended on the road till 11.30 am. Commuters faced immense suffering. Children and old people were the worst sufferers, sitting inside vehicles for hours on a sweltering day.
Workers of two garment factories in Shewrapara started the protest in the morning over wages and overtime payments, said Sakhawat Hossain, assistant commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Mirpur zone).
The agitated workers of Misami-Bitopi Garments alleged that the factory owner refused to pay attendance bonus to helpers of sewing machines and iron-men. They claimed that a certain group of workers, including sewing machine operators and people working in the quality and cutting sections, get Tk. 500 as attendance bonus per month. The workers also demanded Tk. 600 as tiffin charges.
A large number of law enforcers, including the police and the Rapid Action Battalion, rushed to the scene and pursued the agitating workers to clear the road. The workers agreed to clear the road after being assured that their demands would be conveyed to the owners.
“We’ve been demanding a pay rise and food facilities for a long time, but the owners did not respond. They also decided to shut down the factories during the agitation,” said Rokeya Begum of Akik Apparels at Shewrapara.
Workers of Misami-Bitopi said they started demonstrating at about 9 am after the factory owner rejected their demands. The demonstrating workers, particularly machine helpers, said they should be provided with lunch during working days.
The agitated workers hurled brickbats and smashed glass panes and windows of a pick-up van.
Kazi Wazed Alim, officer-in-charge of Kafrul police station, said: “The factory owner has been informed about the situation. We’re trying to disperse the workers.”
Sirajul Islam, director of Akik Apparels, said: “We will take steps as per government rules and regulations,” He claimed that his factory provides all kinds of facilities, including wages, as per government regulations.
Workers of Basundhara Garments at Kalabagan blocked the road under a nearby footbridge in the morning, in protest against shifting of their unit to a new location. They said the factory would be shifted to Hemayetpur in Savar on the outskirts of the capital on June 20. Fearing that they would lose their jobs, the workers came out on the street at 10:30 am.
The workers alleged that the management had served a notice in this regard only 24 days before the shifting. They claimed that a factory owner should inform the staff about shifting at least three months before. The agitated workers called off their protest when the owner assured them that the shifting would not take place until December.
For the last few days, RMG workers have been demonstrating in Ashulia and the capital, demanding a minimum salary of Tk. 8,000.
-With The Independent input
