The recent assurances from the Government and the traders’ bodies notwithstanding, more than 8,500 workers, most of them employed in the garment manufacturing sector, have been dismissed at the three garment manufacturing hubs namely Narayanganj, Savar and Ashulia, claimed media reports.
As per the reports, which cited figures from the Industrial Police, of the 65 units that have combinedly dismissed more than 8,500 workers till 9 May, 55 are readymade garment factories and members of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
Lately, labour leaders have been alleging significant retrenchment of workers, following the countrywide shutdown put in place by the Government to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country and subsequent opening of garment manufacturing units from 26 April after almost a month.
Meanwhile, garment workers of various factories in the major garment manufacturing hubs of the country are continuing with their protests against job cuts and in demand of wages and arrears.
On Saturday, at least 20 readymade garment workers from more than 10 garment factories in Ashulia and Gazipur who were protesting by blocking the Dhaka–Mymensingh and Dhaka–Tangail highways were injured after the police fired tear gas shells, rubber bullets and resorted to baton charge to control the agitating workers.
Even on Sunday, as per reports, thousands of garment workers from various factories in Chittagong, Gazipur and Ashulia, continued their protests demanding full wages for April.
