Big RMG companies face unrest over April wages

Thousands of apparel industry workers on Monday vandalised a ready-made garment (RMG) factory belonging to DBL Group in Kashimpur, under Gazipur district, demanding full wages for April and Eid bonuses.

The government has already given a directive on this issue, saying only those who were present at work for the entire month of April will get 100 percent salaries.

Workers who worked partly will get full salary for the working days and 65 percent for the rest of the days

MA Rahim, vice chairman of DBL Group, said they have paid the salaries as per the instructions of the government.

"We have 25,000 workers in this factory. A group of them started demanding 100 percent salaries for April. At one stage, some of them went on wreaking havoc in the factory. The factory is currently closed," he said.

He explained that the time for paying Eid bonuses had not come yet.

"If the government ask us to pay full salaries and bonuses, we will pay it. We will not do anything beyond the decision taken by the government," added Rahim, also vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Speaking to The Business Standard, Gazipur Zone Industrial Police Additional Superintendent Sushanta Sarkar said thousands of DBL workers came to the streets at around 1pm and vandalised vehicles and also the factory. Later, police came and removed them. More police officials have been deployed in the area to maintain peace.

"The factory owners have declared a two-day vacation to keep things calm," he added.

Similar scenarios played out in at least 10 factories of Gazipura and Ashulia on the same day, according to sources.

The factories are Gazipur-based Mondol Group, Metro Knitting and Dyeing Mills Ltd, Fareast Knitting and Dyeing Mills Ltd. The Ashulia-based factories are Sharmin Group, Starling Creation Ltd, Yeagi Bangladesh Ltd, Ratul Fabrics Ltd, and Manami Fashion Ltd.

Industry insiders and police are surprised that it is the big RMG companies that are facing such demonstrations, although these are the ones who pay their workers regularly.

BGMEA sources said other big RMG companies have also faced such demonstrations in the last few days, including Hameem Group, Envoy Group and Islam Group – all based in Ashulia.

Rezwan Salim, a BGMEA director, also acknowledged the trend.

The reason could be, according to IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC) Secretary General Salauddin Shapon, could be the absence of trade unions.

"Most of the factories that are facing unrest do not have trade unions. If those owners allowed trade unions, we would be able to communicate with them."

He also said labour leaders have control of up to 10 percent workers who are affiliated with trade unions or federations.

However, the garment factories have workers' participatory committees, as per the labour law, instead of trade unions, said Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Director Fazlee Shamim Ehsan.

"It depends on workers' choice," he added.

Shapon said they had conditionally agreed to the 65 percent salary payment for April.

"Factory owners should not terminate any workers or lay them off, and then resume work while the workers are at home.

"But a number of factories did not keep their promises," he added.