The proprietor of Style Craft, a garment manufacturer based in Gazipur, has been granted a seven-day period to disclose the accurate number of employees laid off, as well as their pending payments. This directive emerged from a tripartite meeting convened at the Ministry of Labour and Employment in Dhaka on 21st January.
The meeting was led by Mohammad Sobur Hossain, additional secretary of the Ministry of Labour, and included Ruhul Amin, central finance secretary of the Bangladesh Trade Union Centre, representing the workers. Sharif Almas, the chairman of Style Craft, was also present, along with officials from the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) and other stakeholders.
The primary focus of the meeting was to resolve issues related to the outstanding dues owed to workers who have been laid off in various phases since 2021. A follow-up meeting is slated for 3rd February.
During the discussion, both the employer and the workers were unable to provide precise numbers regarding the layoffs that have occurred since 2021. Ruhul Amin asserted that over 2,200 workers from Style Craft’s two factories had been terminated unlawfully. He emphasised that the company is currently operating at reduced capacity and that a decision must be made regarding the potential rehiring of these workers, alongside the settlement of their outstanding payments.
As a result of the meeting, Mohammad Sobur Hossain requested that the owner and the representatives of the workers compile and finalise a list of those who were unlawfully terminated, including their numbers and dues, within the next week. He also instructed the regional inspection officer of DIFE to facilitate the resolution of this issue.
Sharif Almas, the chairman of Style Craft, expressed his lack of awareness regarding a lawsuit that had been filed against him until the court’s decision was rendered. He indicated that he does not have the means to resolve the situation but suggested that workers’ dues could be paid in installments. Almas further noted that for those employees who have initiated personal lawsuits, resolutions would be determined in accordance with the court’s decisions once they are issued.
In 2021, the Government initiated legal proceedings against the owner of Style Craft, who has since appealed the case, which is currently under judicial review.
