Apparel Plus workers protest in Gazipur demanding arrears
Protest called off following payment assurance
Workers of Apparel Plus Eco Limited, a factory under TNZ Group, staged a protest today morning in the Gacha area of Gazipur, demanding two months' unpaid wages and the reopening of their factory.
The protest was called off in the afternoon following a tripartite agreement between workers, factory management, and relevant authorities.
The factory, which employs 825 workers, through a public notice on Friday announced indefinite closure without clearing salaries for December and January, according to police and workers.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
When workers came to the factory on Sunday, they found it closed. In response, they staged a protest at the main entrance, demanding the immediate reopening of the factory and the payment of their dues.
Many carried placards with messages such as "We work, but we don't get paid".
As their demands remained unmet, workers resumed their protest yesterday, gathering at the factory gate from 8am. They reiterated their calls for unpaid salaries and the reopening of the factory.
In response, a meeting was held at 11:30am in the factory's conference room, attended by factory representative Md Shariful Islam Shahin, TNZ Group directors, worker representatives, BGMEA officials, industrial police, and labour department officials.
After nearly three hours of discussions, a tripartite settlement was reached.
As per the settlement, the unpaid wages for December will be cleared by 20 February, while the salaries for January will be paid by 17 March.
The bonus payments will be settled before Eid-ul-Fitr, and the factory reopening date will be announced via an official notice. Besides, the payment for earned leave will be discussed and resolved.
AKM Johirul Islam, superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police-2, said both parties reached an agreement, and expects the factory to honour their commitments and resume operations soon.
Shahin, a worker at the factory, said the closure has left hundreds of workers and employees in distress. He alleged that the management has a history of delaying payments and intimidating workers who demanded their wages.
The factory management could not be reached for comment.
