The readymade garment (RMG) industrial zones in Savar, Ashulia, and Gazipur returned to normal operations on Wednesday as manufacturers and workers agreed on 18 key labour demands.
By Wednesday afternoon, however, 10 factories in Ashulia and Savar had closed, along with four in Gazipur. In Savar and Ashulia, 6 of the 10 closed factories had been shut down under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act, which enforces a “no work, no pay” policy. The remaining four factories reopened but quickly shut down again due to workers’ refusal to work.
Despite these closures, 98 per cent of the 407 factories in Savar and Ashulia remained operational, while 99.54 per cent of the 876 factories in Gazipur continued to function. Overall, 99 per cent of factories—2,130 out of 2,144—were operating normally nation-wide. Khandaker Rafiqul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said that the situation of unemployment is under control and workers have joined their workplaces.
Meanwhile, according to Ashulia Industrial Area Police-1 sources, most of the factories closed due to various reasons including financial crisis, not for any protest-like issues. The closed factories will be reopened soon.
The Bangladesh Garment and Sweater Workers Trade Union’s legal affairs secretary, Khairul Mamun Mintu, stated that there has been a workers’ movement in the apparel industry for a few weeks. The tripartite meeting concluded that the workers’ eighteen demands were reasonable and significant, and as a result, all eighteen demands were approved at the Ministry of Labour meeting involving manufacturers, labourers, and government representatives.
Following the release of the joint statement, clothing manufacturers have opened in industrial districts today, and employees have begun working there as well. In the meantime, more security personnel have been sent in, along with more patrols and monitoring, to maintain control of the situation.
Earlier representatives of readymade garment manufacturers and workers agreed on 18 key demands to address labour concerns. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), representing the manufacturers, accepted the workers’ demands in response to ongoing labour unrest.
Key demands include the enforcement of the existing minimum wage in all factories by October, with outstanding payments required to be settled by 10th October. Additionally, attendance bonuses will be increased by Taka 225, night shift bonuses will go up by Taka 10, and there will be a Taka 10 increase for meal allowances for shifts starting after 8:00 p.m.
Workers in labour-intensive areas will gain access to rations through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) and Open Market Sales (OMS). Maternity leave will also be extended from 112 to 120 days, and all factories are required to establish daycare centers for workers’ children.
A joint committee, consisting of six representatives from both manufacturers and workers, will explore the creation of a new minimum wage board within the next six months. To promote worker welfare, the Ministry will take charge of the Jhut (fabric scrap) business.
The Law Ministry aims to resolve all pending legal cases involving workers, and compensation will be awarded to the families of workers who lost their lives during last year’s wage protests and the July unrest, funded by the central reserve.
Furthermore, initiatives to combat gender discrimination in the garment industry are underway. Compensation for the victims of the Tazreen Fashion and Rana Plaza tragedies will be provided according to a recent committee report.
The Labour Act will be amended by December, specifically under Article 93, to ensure that service benefits and provident funds are implemented across all garment factories.
Industry insiders have noted that the ongoing protests since late August have placed apparel exporters in a difficult position, with estimates suggesting that around 20 per cent to 30 per cent of orders for the upcoming season may have already shifted to other countries.