Dhaka:Garment factory owners have issued a warning that they will not continue participating in the ongoing Minimum Wage Board discussions unless comprehensive security measures are put in place for industrial units. This stance comes as 147 factories across major industrial belts remain closed due to persistent unrest.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the warning was delivered during a joint press conference held by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) at the BGMEA Building in Uttara on Saturday.
During the conference, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan and BKMEA Executive President Fazlee Shamim Ehsan highlighted the challenges faced by the industry. Leaders of these apex trade bodies accused a vested group of attempting to create anarchy under the guise of minimum wage demands, resulting in numerous factory closures spanning 7 to 12 days across Savar, Ashulia, Narayanganj, and Gazipur.
The trade bodies reported that while the majority of workers are eager to return to their jobs, a small faction, joined by outsiders, is causing disturbances. These disturbances include obstructing willing workers and pelting stones at operational factories. Currently, 147 member factories, which employ roughly 300,000 workers, are unable to function. Out of these, 55 factories have been entirely closed, while 92 others have failed to resume production despite efforts to operate. Factory owners noted that the unsafe environment has forced closures, even though Section 13(1) of the Labor Act prevents arbitrary closures.
Members of BGMEA and BKMEA labeled the vandalism of factories as "illogical" while wage negotiations are ongoing. They called on the government to deploy maximum law enforcement personnel to restore order and protect industrial assets. The owners stated that they will observe the situation until Sunday (November 15). If normalcy is restored by then, they will submit their formal wage proposal at the Minimum Wage Board meeting scheduled for Monday (November 16). If not, the associations warned of tough organizational decisions.
Leaders of BGMEA, BKMEA, and various factory owners attended the press conference, which followed a consulting meeting among business leaders regarding the current law and order situation and labor unrest in Bangladesh's apparel sector.