Another factory shuts down amid workers' protests in Gazipur

Due to ongoing labour unrest, Globus Garments Limited, located in the Mouchak area of Kaliakair Upazila, Gazipur, has declared a closure. 

The closure comes days after another factory named Unique Design Factory also announced a closure while laying off 78 workers.

In response to the Globus Garments Limited factory closure, workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway today (12 March) morning, disrupting traffic for several hours. The police later intervened and dispersed the protestors, allowing traffic to resume, confirmed Superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police-2 AKM Zahidul Islam.

According to police and local sources, on Saturday (8 March), several workers of Globus Garments Limited were reportedly assaulted by factory staff. In protest, the workers started demonstrations inside the factory, leading to a temporary shutdown. 

Despite the disputes between the workers and staff being resolved, the factory remained closed until yesterday (11 March). Frustrated by the ongoing closure, workers had been staging continuous protests, including blocking the Dhaka-Tangail highway yesterday, causing temporary traffic disruption. 

For security reasons, 15 nearby factories were also closed yesterday. Following these events, the factory authorities issued a lay-off notice yesterday, which workers discovered this morning, sparking renewed protests and another highway blockade. Law enforcement later dispersed the protestors, and traffic resumed by 10:30am.

The official notice stated that due to an illegal workers' strike on 8 March, the factory had remained closed for three days in accordance with the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 (amended in 2018), the factory will now be officially "laid off" starting from 12 March. 

Meanwhile, a few days ago, 78 workers of the Unique Design factory in the Boardbazar area of Gazipur Metropolitan City were laid off. In solidarity, another 52 workers refrained from joining work, leading to their termination as well. 

Protesting these dismissals and demanding outstanding wages, the terminated workers staged demonstrations in front of the factory this morning, preventing other employees from entering. 

However, around 150 workers managed to enter the factory, while the remaining employees joined the protest, demanding settlement of their dues.

Superintendent AKM Zahidul Islam said that following negotiations mediated by the Industrial Police, Unique Design management agreed to discuss the matter with the workers. The terminated workers also agreed to the discussion, stating they would resume work upon receiving their dues.

Additionally, workers of Khan Tex Fashion Limited in Bartopa staged a protest on the Maona-Kaliakair regional road, demanding an eight-point charter, including salary payments within eight working days, payment of last month's wages by the 15th of Ramadan, and Eid bonuses for both new and old workers by the 20th. 

Authorities are working towards a peaceful resolution through discussions with the workers.