After being allegedly laid off without any specific reasons, six workers employed with Ashulia-based Goodrich Sweaters Limited (belonging to Skyline Group) have started an indefinite hunger strike from Sunday, claimed media reports.

According to the concerned garment workers, on 30 July, the factory authorities reportedly collected their identity cards, took signatures from them on blank papers and forced them to resign without citing any reasons, subsequent to which they filed complaints with the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), Industrial Police and a labour organisation to get back their jobs but to no avail.

That is why we have decided to go on a hunger strike, reportedly underlined an aggrieved worker from amongst the six while alleging that factory authorities have unlawfully forced them to resign because of which they and their families are going through tough times.

Meanwhile, as per one of the officials of the concerned factory which reportedly has around 1,400 workers in the sweater section, the six workers were allegedly trying to vitiate the working atmosphere and disrupt work by protesting the authority’s decision to provide five-day holidays for Eid-ul-Azha.

Subsequent to their action, the factory authorities issued them show cause notices while also suspending them temporarily from work, the official reportedly told the media.