Garment workers protest Ashulia factory closure over salary disputes

Workers of a readymade garment factory in Ashulia, Dhaka, staged a protest this morning (26 April) following the indefinite closure of their factory.

The workers of Natural Wool Wears Ltd, located in the Charabag area of Ashulia, began their protest after the factory authorities declared the closure, under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, through a notice issued yesterday (25 April).

The notice, signed by Syed Miladun Huda, assistant director (administration), stated that the factory will remain closed indefinitely due to "rioting, forcibly stopping work, illegal strikes, and unstable situations by the working workers even after payment of all salaries, allowances, and overtime."

Natural Wool Wears Ltd, located in the Charabag area of Ashulia. Photo: Collected

Workers claimed that the factory was closed without any prior announcement or valid reason, with authorities blaming the workers for the closure. They demanded the immediate reopening of the factory. The protest continued till noon.

Attempts to contact S Golam Shibly Nomany, chairman of Natural Wool Wears Ltd, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to phone calls.

Superintendent of Industrial Police-1 Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan told The Business Standard, "The authorities have declared the factory closed under Section 13 (1) of the labour law citing worker unrest and illegal work stoppage. We are trying to resolve the issue through discussions with all parties."

A factory worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Business Standard that the factory authorities had been failing to pay workers' salaries on time for nearly a year.

"Every month, salaries were delayed, sometimes being paid as late as the 20th," the worker said.

The worker added that although salaries for March were due in the first week of April, the owners paid only part of the wages on 22 April. 

When workers staged a work stoppage on 23 April to demand full payment, the remaining wages were paid the next day. However, they then came to work and found the factory closed.

The same worker said the authorities accused the workers of rioting, stopping work forcibly, illegal strikes, and creating instability.

However, he claimed, "The workers only observed a peaceful work stoppage due to delayed salaries and did not create any disorder. Instead, on 24 April, outsiders on behalf of the authorities assaulted several workers."

A linking operator at the factory said, "The owners cannot pay salaries on time. Workers' holiday pay, night bills, and tiffin allowances are still outstanding. Despite these issues, the workers did not create any disorder. They observed a one-day work stoppage. What else can workers do? At the end of the month, landlords demand rent, and shopkeepers ask for payments."

The worker also mentioned that during a discussion with police and factory management on 24 April, the owners promised to pay workers' salaries within the first seven days of each month.

"After the discussion, while workers were returning home, outsiders beat up several workers. Instead of addressing the workers' demands, the owners closed the factory and blamed the workers. We want the factory reopened immediately," the worker alleged.

The notice further mentioned that the reopening date would be announced later when a favourable environment is created. According to workers, more than 900 workers are employed at Natural Wool Wears Ltd.