3 garments units closed following labour unrest

28 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Three garments factories of a group at East Sheorapara in Kafrul remained closed for the last three days following labour unrest over non-payment of annual increment on time. Workers of Outright Group staged demonstrations in front of the factories to press their 14-point demands, including immediate payment of their annual increments. Later, police prevented the workers from taking to the streets. Director of the Group Faruquzzaman told The Daily Star that workers of the sewing section stopped work and started demonstration after Production Manager Badal slapped a female worker of a factory for her faulty work at around 11:00am on Saturday. They beat Badal mercilessly. He has been admitted to a private hospital. The garments workers joined the work yesterday morning after an amicable solution at a meeting with the authorities. But some outsiders claiming to be labour leaders instigated the workers to leave their work and come out, Faruquzzaman said. He said the authorities would pay increment to the workers after the new wage board is announced in July. He said the authorities are also ready to pay the arrear increments. Kafrul police station officer-in-charge (OC) Delwar Hossain said police and garments factory officials urged the workers to continue their work without any response. The workers started fresh agitation with new demands, they said. No solution could be reached till 6:30pm yesterday.