Chattogram: Pacific Group is set to reopen its eight garment factories in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) on Thursday, following an improvement in the situation after recent worker unrest. The decision marks a significant step in resuming operations that were halted due to protests and incidents of vandalism.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the factories were shut down indefinitely on October 16 under Section 12(1) of the Bangladesh EPZ Labor Act 2019. This closure came after a period of intense protests and unrest among the workers, leading to a temporary halt in production.
Pacific Group's Chief Operating Officer, Suhrid Chowdhury, stated that the decision to resume operations was made after successful discussions with workers, which led to a more conducive working environment. The resolution of these issues has allowed the group to move forward with reopening the factories.
All officers, employees, and workers have been instructed to report to duty as per the scheduled timeline, as per a notice signed by Managing Director Syed Mohammad Tanvir. This step is expected to bring normalcy back to the production processes within the factories.
The factories set to reopen include Pacific Jeans-1, Pacific Jeans-2, Pacific Attire, Pacific Accessories, Pacific Workwears, Universal Jeans, HT Fashion, and Jeans 2000. Collectively, these factories employ over 40,000 workers, making them a significant part of the local economy and employment landscape.