Workers at the Natural Wool Wears Ltd garment factory in Ashulia staged a protest 26th April following the factory’s indefinite closure. The protest was sparked by concerns over unpaid wages and the sudden shutdown of operations.
The factory, located in the Charabag area of Ashulia, was closed under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, as announced in a notice issued on Friday (25th April). The notice, signed by Assistant Director Syed Miladun Huda, cited “rioting, forcibly stopping work, illegal strikes, and unstable situations” as reasons for the closure, which is set to remain in effect until further notice.
Workers expressed frustration over the abrupt closure, claiming it was done without prior warning or valid justification. They demanded the immediate reopening of the factory, which employs over 900 workers. The protest, which continued until noon, saw workers voicing their concerns about unpaid wages and poor working conditions.
Attempts to reach the factory’s chairman, S Golam Shibly Nomany, for comment were unsuccessful as he did not respond to phone calls. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Industrial Police-1 Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan told The Business Standard, “The authorities have declared the factory closed under Section 13(1) of the labour law citing worker unrest and illegal work stoppage. We are working to resolve the issue through discussions with all parties involved.”
Workers revealed that the factory had been delaying salary payments for nearly a year, with wages often paid as late as the 20th of each month. In April, wages for March were only partly paid on 22nd April, and the remaining amount was settled the following day after a work stoppage. Despite this, workers returned to find the factory shuttered.
A worker, who asked to remain anonymous, stated that the factory management accused workers of rioting and creating instability, although he affirmed that their work stoppage was peaceful and solely due to delayed salaries. He further claimed that on 24 April, outsiders hired by the management assaulted several workers during a discussion with police and factory officials.
Another worker linked to operations at the factory expressed concern over unpaid holiday pay, night bills, and allowances, emphasising that workers had only organised a peaceful protest in response to ongoing payment issues. He accused the factory owners of failing to resolve these grievances and of blaming workers for the unrest.
The workers also alleged that, after promising to pay salaries within the first week of each month during a discussion on 24th April, the factory was suddenly closed, and workers were blamed for the unrest. They called for the factory to be reopened immediately, asserting their right to fair wages and working conditions.
The factory authorities have not set a reopening date, stating that it will be announced once a “favourable environment” is created. The situation remains tense, with workers demanding justice and a resolution to their longstanding salary disputes.
