Around 400 workers of a now shut Dhaka Export Processing Zone-based Italian-owned factory at Savar on Tuesday reportedly tried to lay siege on the Labour and Employment Ministry at the Secretariat to press home their demand for clearance of dues even as police intervened to thwart their attempt.
According to reports, the agitating workers of the A-One (BD) Limited who were on their way to the Secretariat, were stopped by the police after which they staged a rally close by, demanding reinstatement of jobs, reopening of the factory and payment of 11 months’ salary and two Eid bonuses.
As per an aggrieved worker who spoke to the media, on 9 April this year after shutdown was announced, around 1,100 workers under different grades lost their jobs even as the said unit has reportedly been struggling due to lack of work orders and its owner planning to sell off the unit.
The factory owner is in the country still but we failed to contact him, reportedly maintained some workers adding that despite assurances from the Dhaka Export Processing Zone authorities, they were yet to get all their dues.
The Dhaka Export Processing Zone authorities have reportedly managed to pay a part of the workers’ dues from a buyer.
Meanwhile, General Manager of the Dhaka Export Processing Zone Md. Abdus Sobhan reportedly maintained subsequent to failure to make payments, A-One (BD) was shut down while adding the entity even owes the Dhaka Export Processing Zone Taka 2.5 crore, and its lease agreement was cancelled on 18 April.
