364 more apparel factories reopen as workers continue protest for wages
Most small and medium factories outside Dhaka are operating without complying with safety guidelines, risking their workers’ exposure to coronavirus
Some 364 more apparel factories across the country resumed their operations on Monday.
According to the Industrial Police, 947 garments, knitwear and textile factories have reopened till now.
But most small and medium factories outside Dhaka are not complying with safety guidelines, risking their workers' exposure to coronavirus, factory workers told our local correspondents.
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Only a few big garment factories in Dhaka, Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur areas are maintaining the safety protocol.
To this end, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association on Monday issued a circular, asking its member factories again to abide by health guidelines in operating factories.
Citing information from Industrial Police, the circular said workers vandalised a factory centring health issues as the factory authorities brought 4,000 workers at a time to resume production.
The unwanted situation was created in the factory due to the violation of BGMEA guidelines regarding health safety, the circular said.
In the meantime, defying social distancing, workers of at least 10 factories in Dhaka, Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur and Chittagong demonstrated, demanding their arrear salaries.
Some 130 workers at Taj Garments, a Mohammadpur-based factory, agitated in front of their factory for their wages for March.
After a three-hour negotiation, the factory owner agreed to pay them wages for March by May 10 but refused to pay for April, said Saleha Islam Santona, president of Motherland Garment Workers Federation.
Workers block road at Savar
Hundreds of workers of several factories staged demonstrations blocking roads and in front of their factories in Savar and Ashulia areas to press home several demands.
Workers claimed at least 15 of their fellow workers were injured in clashes with police. But the police did not admit to any clash nor injuries to workers.
Javed Masud, inspector (investigation) at Ashulia Police Station, told The Business Standard that they had no information about clashes with workers.
According to police sources, workers of Sharmin Group, Sigma Fashion, Kl Garment, and Star Link protested layoffs and for their due salaries.
Police sources said on information about unrest, they rushed to the factory but the factory authorities did not cooperate with them.
However, after the decision of reopening the factory, a number of workers were entering the capital by motorbikes and on foot.
Jahidul Islam, assistant commissioner of Darus Salam traffic zone, told to the Business Standard, "We did not see that workers are entering Dhaka."
Annex Fashion closed for an indefinite period in Chattogram: Workers
The authorities of Annex Fashion Limited, an export-oriented garment factory, in Chattogram announced the closure of the factory for an indefinite period without any prior notice on Monday, claimed workers at the factory.
The workers gathered in front of the factory in Dewanhat area of Chattogram city on Monday morning as garment factories are reopening following the government's permission.
But upon their arrival, they found a notice there that said the factory would remain closed for an indefinite period, the workers said.
However, the authorities of the factory denied the allegation and said that they would resume production activities in the factory on Tuesday.
Managing director of Annex Fashion Limited said, "We have two factories. We have already reopened one of the factories on a limited scale. We will start this factory again from tomorrow [Tuesday] as the government has given permission to resume the activities of the garment industry."
Workers agitate in Gazipur
Workers of an apparel factory in Gazipur staged a demonstration and blocked the highway demanding to reopen the factory which declared layoff.
Agitated workers also vandalized some nearby factories and they set fire to tyres and motorcycles.
When police tried to disperse them, they locked in a clash with police, leaving eight people, including police members, hurt. To bring the situation under control, the police fired tear gas on the protesting workers.
Meanwhile, hundreds of garment workers started returning to Dhaka to rejoin their respective workplaces amid growing concern over coronavirus transmission.
They are getting on trucks, pick-up vans or rickshaws to reach their destinations while some were seen walking on Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu bridge highway on Monday.
