On Monday morning, hundreds of Ananta Casual Wear Limited employees staged a sit-in in front of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) to demand that the factory be immediately reopened and that layoffs stop.
Citing worker dissatisfaction, the firm declared a one-day closure earlier in the day. The management sent out a notice that all divisions would be paid to stay closed for the day and that work would start up again on Tuesday. “All employees of the mentioned sections are instructed to resume work and carry out their duties properly from tomorrow,” the note, which was signed by a senior general manager, stated.
Protesting employees gathered outside the DIFE headquarters in defiance of the closure. Workers had staged a sit-in inside the factory the day before, according to Md Habil, an inspector with the Gazipur Industrial Police, who spoke to The Daily Star. The workplace responded by declaring Monday a holiday.
The Garment Workers Trade Union Centre (Gazipur) president, Ziaul Kabir Khokon, denounced the factory’s termination policies, saying, “This factory has been terminating workers without prior notice.” The workers demand job stability, not compensation, even though the dues have been paid. Hundreds of people are demonstrating today because of this. He also affirmed that he will be joining the staff at the DIFE office.
To address the lingering problems, regulators, manufacturing owners, and employees will meet. Badr Uddin, the manufacturing manager, said he had a busy schedule and would not comment when approached.
