DHAKA: Sahadat, a worker of Alliance Garments’ of Ashulia, went to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha at his village. After returning from the village, he found himself in the list of 25 names who were sacked.

This was not the end; he was also sued for participating in the readymade garments workers’ (RMG) movement along with others of the list.

Some 30 RMG workers of ARM Garments of Malibagh and 25 workers of Lifestyle Garments of Badda in the city also were sacked after the eid.

According to the Textile Garment Workers Federation, the number of workers who were sacked or failed to join in the job after the Eid-ul-Azha is around 200,000.

The garments owners are also adopting unjust tactics; they sacked those workers who used to protest unfair activities or used to participate in the movements to establish workers’ rights.

Textile Garment Workers Federation general secretary Tapan Saha told banglanews that workers from different garments are filing complaints everyday about losing jobs after the eid.

“We have probed the matter and found truth of it. And, it is a matter of great regret that the owners sacked those workers who used to protest unfair activities of owners,” he said.

We have talked to the owners but to no avail, Tapan Saha added.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) also acknowledged the matter.

BGMEA vice-president M Shahidul Azim told banglanews that they could not wait for the labourers who did not join in the right time after the eid. “We cannot stop production,” he added.

However, he denied that the number of sacked labours could be 200,000.

Labour Law specialist Advocate Zafrul Hasan Sharif said that sacking workers without any notice is the violation of the Section 20 (2) of Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.

The section said:  (2) No worker who has been in continuous service for not less than one year under an employer shall be retrenched by the employer unless-

(a) The worker has been given one month’s notice in writing, indicating the reasons for retrenchment, or the worker has been paid in lieu of such notice, wages for the period of notice;

(b) a copy of the notice is sent to the chief Inspector or any other officer authorized by him and also to the collective bargaining agent in the establishment, if any; and

(c) he has been paid, compensation which shall be equivalent to thirty days wages or gratuity for every completed year of service if any, whichever is higher.

Advocate Zafrul Hasan Sharif also said the worker, who was sacked without any notice, could lodge complaint with the court for the ‘termination benefit’.

Owners are bound to pay the ‘termination benefit’ in such cases, he added.

BDST: 1814 HRS, OCT 27, 2014