JK Fashion workers hold demo for dues
They demanded that all dues to be paid by July 15
Workers of JK Fashion, a subsidiary of Medlar Group, on Saturday staged demonstrations and blocked a road at Shewrapara in the capital, demanding payment of dues including the wages for June and July.
According to a leaflet of the protesting workers, their other demands include Eid bonus; wages for August, September and October; last year's and this year's payment for holidays and gratuity for service length as per the labour law.
The workers demanded that all the dues be paid by July 15 in person.
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MM Moinul Islam, assistant police commissioner of Mirpur zone, told The Business Standard that the workers blocked a road.
Police talked to the workers, and persuaded them to leave the road, he added. "Now the road is clear. Traffic is normal."
According to the workers, the company had decided to transfer the factory from Shewrapara to Tongi. But most of the workers did not agree to join the factory in Tongi. Therefore, the workers want their due salaries and Eid bonus to be cleared.
"As per law, before shifting a factory, the owner must pay the workers their dues and the factory authorities also earlier said that all dues would be paid within Wednesday. However, we did not receive it yet. That is why we have blocked the road, demanding the arrears," a worker said.
According to the demonstrators, around 1,000 workers work at the factory. They make shirts, pants, and other items that are exported to China and different European countries.
On condition of anonymity, a worker said to The Business Standard, "I have worked at the factory for around 15 years. The owner has decided to shift the factory. They told us to join work in Tongi. But I cannot go there because my family members live in Mirpur. They are working here."
"Before shifting the factory, I want our dues to be cleared. Otherwise, we will not allow the factory to shift. Most of the workers will not be able to survive because they did not receive salary for the last two months," he added.
Earlier on July 1, JK Fashion Ltd issued a notification on relocating its Unit-1 factory to Tongi from Begum Rokeya Sharani from August 8 this year.
