Over 1,800 Savar garment workers hit streets after sudden mass layoffs

A total of 1,868 workers have been laid off from three ready-made garment factories of Al-Muslim Group in Savar, prompting protests by retrenched workers outside the factories today (6 June).

The workers staged demonstrations after arriving at work in the morning and finding their names on layoff notices posted at the factory gates.

The situation later calmed after industrial police and factory authorities assured workers that any complaints regarding payments would be resolved through proper procedures.

Of the total, 1,286 workers were laid off from AKM Knitwear Limited in the Ulail area, 529 from Pacific Blue Jeans Wear in Radio Colony, and 53 from Al-Muslim Apparels in Ashulia.

Workers gathered in front of the factories and protested the layoffs, questioning the authorities' claims and describing the dismissal of such a large number of employees at once as inhumane.

Md Abu Raihan, deputy general manager (administration) of Al-Muslim Group, said the layoffs were carried out under Section 20 of the Labour Act due to a business slowdown and a decline in purchase orders.

"All workers have received their dues according to the rules," he said.

However, several workers alleged that proper procedures under the Bangladesh Labour Act were not followed.

Sabbir Hossain, one of the retrenched workers, said, "Before the Eid holidays, they gave us 20 days' salary, and we have been laid off without any notice. Today I learned that I no longer have a job. We regularly worked overtime, yet now they say there is no work."

Nazma Akter, who worked at one of the factories for three years, said she was informed about losing her job after returning from the Eid holidays.

Following the protest, additional industrial police personnel were deployed in front of the factories as a precautionary measure.

A senior official of Industrial Police-1 also said the layoffs resulted from a downturn in business. He added that workers were assured any disputes over dues would be addressed promptly.

Although some retrenched workers remained near the factories, the overall situation was normal, he said.

Khairul Mamun, legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Garment and Sweaters Workers Trade Union Centre, said the future employment of retrenched workers should be considered.

"In most sectors, workers gain greater job security as they become more experienced. In the garment sector, however, the opposite often happens. Workers whose salaries increase through increments and promotions are frequently laid off," he said.