Sweater factory workers stage demo in Savar demanding increased wages, other benefits

Production workers of a sweater factory staged a demonstration by blocking the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Savar today (3 March) demanding an increase in wages, provision of leave benefits and allowance of festival bonuses.

Workers of Dynamic Sweater Industries Limited began their demonstration by blocking the highway at Savar's Ulail Bazar area around 11am, causing tailback on both sides of the road, reports our correspondent.

After waging their protest for half an hour, the workers withdrew their blockade through the army's intervention around 11:30am.

Although the agitated workers left the road, they threw brick chips at the nearby Anlima Textile Limited in a bid to force workers out of the factory and to join them on the streets. Law enforcers then dispersed them from the spot.

"The workers of Anlima factory detained two women during the violence and handed them over to us. We have rescued the two women," said Additional Superintendent of Police of Dhaka District Police (Savar Circle) Md Shahinur Kabir.

When asked about the matter, the agitated workers said most of them work in production and recently the owners have started to pay them wages lower than they used to get previously.

The workers added that their factory does not pay them any leave benefits or festival bonuses.

As a result, they had been demonstrating for the past couple of days demanding these benefits. The owners were about to sit with them this morning, and instead of doing this, they closed down the factory, said the workers.

That is why the workers had come to the streets to realise their demands, workers further said.

Aklima, a linking operator of the factory, told TBS, "At present we get Tk21 per piece of our work instead of Tk26 that we used to get earlier. Although the cost of living increases day by day, the rate of our work just decreases. We even do not get any Eid bonus or leave allowance."

"We wanted to talk to the owners about this, but instead of hearing us, they have closed down the factory for two days from today. That is why we have taken to the streets to raise our demands," Aklima said.

Additional Superintendent of Police of Dhaka District Police (Savar Circle) Md Shahinur Kabir, who was present at the spot, said, "We have talked to the workers but their demands did not seem logical. However, we have talked to the factory owners and they have decided to sit with the workers. Based on this assurance, the agitating workers left the streets."

The police officials further said the owners of Dynamic Sweater Industries Limited will sit with the workers at 2pm tomorrow (4 March).