One RMG factory declared closed, nearby ones vacated under unsolicited ‘leave’

SAVAR: A garment factory was declared closed in the industrial hub of Ashulia on Monday morning amid a repeat of labour unrest on a wide scale, after a lull following a recent turmoil.

Local sources said the workers of Magpie garment factory have staged demonstrations for last few days over pay hike. About 1,700 workers of Magpie Knitwear Limited burst into fury in the morning as they saw the notice ‘the factory is closed’.

They then turned their ire on the nearby Irish Fashion. In retaliation for the attack by the neighbours, the Irish fashion workers launched a counter-attack on Magpie Sweater. At the time, the workers of both the factories locked their horns in a chase-and counter-chase bout.

As the news of vandalizing the factories spread, the authorities of all RMG factories situated from Zirabo to Kathgara on Zirabo-Bishmail road declared a lockout in the name of ‘leave’.
 
The factories are Millennium Textile, Southern Garments, Fashion House, Arunima Sportswear, Hatchong Korea, Continental, Textown, Rising Group, Mascot Garments and Irish Fashion.

Police and RAB personnel were on patrol in the area, armed with guns and water cannon, to stem the tide of troubles till the filing of this report at 12:30pm.

Managing Director of Southern Group Shahidul Islam Molla confirmed the closure of three factories of their group. He told banglanews24.com.bd, “We have declared leave in our factories apprehending labour unrest as about 50 RMG factories are situated in this area.”

Assistant Police Super of Savar Circle Monwar Hossain said that trouble erupted in Magpie Sweater in the morning and later spread to the neighborhood.

Officer-in-Charge of Ashulia thana Sirajul Islam said thousands of workers gathered on the road after all the factories closed under the forced leave, disrupting traffic on the road. “But police rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control,” he said.

The Managing Director of Magpai Knitwear told banglanews24.com.bd that they pay the highest salary to the workers at the current market rate.

“We’ve made it clear that there is no scope for raising their salary. But the workers started demonstration, so we are compelled to shut down the factory,” he said.

A raise in the wages has been a longstanding demand of nearly three million low-paid apparel workers in the country, and a slow-pace move in addressing the problem causes such flare-ups of industrial unrest more often than not in different belts.       

BDST: 1135 Hrs, July4, 2010