Shawdesh Desk:

A number of readymade garment units in Ashulia, Savar and Gazipur have terminated many of their workers amid ongoing labour unrest in the Dhaka and Gazipur industrial belts, demanding increased wages and allowances.

Trade union activists said that at least 20 factories fired at least 2,000 workers in the past 15 days under the 2006 Bangladesh labour act’s different sections as mentioned in the termination notices, while several other factories sacked workers without any notices.

Workers and witnesses said that among the factories SM Knitwear Ltd at Joydevpur in Gazipur on Sunday terminated 205 workers under Section 26 of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006.

The notice hung in front of the factory gate stated that the workers getting together were creating unrest in the factory, misbehaved with and assaulted the factory officials, and threatened obstructed other workers to join duty.

The Section 26 allows an employer to terminate both permanent and temporary workers employed, either based on monthly wages or other types of wages, with prior notice or without notice, under certain conditions and clearing all their dues, including wages, provident funds, gratuity and compensations.

Bangladesh Garment and Sweater Workers Trade Union Centre law affairs secretary KM Mintu alleged that the factories were conducting a targeted termination of workers who voiced their rights.

Ekota Garment Workers Federation general secretary Kamrul Hasan condemned identifying of the terminated workers publicly.

‘Factory authorities cannot blame workers and hang their list with picture. It is one kind of humiliation and violation of their rights,’ he said.

Executive Hi-Fashions Limited owned by Meghna Group in Gazipur Sadar, declared indefinitely shut under the Section 13(1) of the labour act since September 17, also terminated 125 workers following labour unrest in the factory.

The workers of Fashion It Company Ltd on Saturday morning saw the termination notice for 63 workers, while the factory also declared an indefinite shutdown from Sunday.

The notice hung in front of the factory gate stated that following unrest in the industrial belt, the unit was to close for security reason until the next announcement.

Ashulia’s Newage Apparels Ltd terminated 350 workers, Ananta Apparels Ltd 147, Donglian Fashion Bd Ltd 80, Envoy Group more than 70, and Dip Apparels Ltd 57, citing different sections of the labour act, factory insiders confirmed.

Workers and trade union leaders also alleged that Pearl Garments Company Ltd terminated 75, Shin Shin Apparels Ltd terminated 81, The Rose Dresses Ltd 44, Skyline Apparels Ltd 99, Tusuka Fashions Ltd over 100 workers, Handa (Dhaka) Textile Co over 80, among others.

Ashulia’s Envoy Group, Dekko Garments Ltd, Palmal Group’s Ayesha Clothing Co Ltd, and Tex Town Ltd also terminated their workers, the number of which could not be confirmed, they said.

New Age, however, could not independently verify each of the cases.

Bangladesh Garment and Sweater Workers Trade Union Centre leader KM Mintu said that Fashion It Company Ltd, Donglian Group and Ananta Apparels terminated trade union leaders.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association officials and factory management and the Industrial Police, when contacted, could not provide further information on the matter.

Association vice-president Rakibul Alam Chowdhury although on Sunday told New Age that they would check the list and give opinion on Monday, did not receive phone calls or reply messages on the day.

On Sunday, he said that so far he knew no factory had terminated any workers.

He explained that at the moment the garment industry was facing a shortage of workers and so it was unlikely for the factories to go for termination because production would resume once the situation calmed.

For the greater interest of the industry, the owners’ association asked factories not to terminate any workers at this moment though tension prevailed, Rakibul Alam said.

Workers’ termination at this moment would lead to many bad consequences, he added.

‘I will inform the BGMEA president about the matter as well,’ he said.

BGMEA additional secretary Monsur Khaled, who according to workers participated in several tripartite negotiations among workers, factory owners and the government, denied making any comments without permission from his seniors.

New Age contacted with at least five factory owners and their senior officials, most of whom declined request for comments.

A senior official of Newage Apparels on condition of anonymity said that identifying the workers causing problems and terminated them as per the factory owners’ instruction.

A Palmal Group official said that the management of some units took their decision for the benefit of the factory.

BGMEA president Khandoker Rafiqul Islam did not receive calls.

Dhaka Industrial Police Mohammad Sarowar Alam superintendent said that they had some information about termination of workers under the labour act, but yet to collect the details.

Several factories remained shut for an indefinite period while some declared general holiday for Monday, he said.

On September 24, a tripartite agreement was signed where BGMEA committed not to terminate any workers at this moment. Based on the assurance the workers returned to production but labour unrest spread again.

Trade union leaders said that the unjust termination was fuelling labour unrest, while the factories were terminating workers daily, either secretly or publicly.

Bangladesh is the second top garment exporter in the world earning $36.15 billion in 2023–24 fiscal, covering 80 per cent of the country’s total export.

Over 40 lakh workers are currently employed in over 3,000 export-oriented apparel factories mainly located on the outskirts of the capital, Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur.

Garment workers took to the streets in early September to press for their demands following overthrowing Sheikh Hasina on August 5 following a student-led mass uprising.