On 15th September, the newly formed Labour Grievance Monitoring Committee of the Labour Ministry visited numerous garment companies in Ashulia in an effort to end the ongoing worker unrest in the industry. While they were there, they had conversations with both factory owners and employees.
“We want to know the demands, objections and complaints of the factory owners, workers and related parties,” Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Labour Md Sabur Hossain told the media following the inspection of an Anant Group facility in Ashulia on Sunday morning at around 11 a.m. We can also be reached via our email address, WhatsApp group, and hotline number, 16357.”
He said that following the 11-member group’s formation last Wednesday, a meeting was held the following day to talk about the committee’s activities and scope of work.
“In accordance with the decision taken at that meeting to handle the industrial area problem, we travelled to Ashulia on Sunday. Finding reasonable and acceptable demands is our aim, which we will then present to the government. If there is an opportunity to meet those straight away, we would also suggest doing so. If it requires some time, I will also inform the authorities. We hope that all of the factories will reopen on Sunday and continue to operate,” he continued.
The biggest victims of the ongoing labour unrest are the clothing factories in Savar, Ashulia, and Zirani, which are located outside of the capital Dhaka. Industry sources say that the unhappiness started off small and then spread due to internal issues at a few specific factories.
Over the last three years, these factories—which benefited significantly from the previous government—have consistently ceased paying wage increases, paid management staff wages irregularly, and refused to grant their employees earned and maternity breaks.
In light of this, the Ministry of Labour and Employment established a “Labour Grievance Monitoring Committee” to address the growing dissatisfaction among workers.
The committee’s task is to evaluate ongoing labour disputes in certain sectors and offer suggestions for their settlement.
