In the face of workers’ dissatisfaction in Dhaka’s Ashulia, the authorities have announced stoppage of production of three more garment factories. A total of 55 factories have stopped production. Among them, section 13 (1) of the Labor Act 2006 has declared 46 indefinite closures and the remaining 9 as general holidays.
On Tuesday (September 24) morning, indefinite closure notices were seen at the gates of various factories including Jamgara, Kathgara, Jirabo, Unique in Ashulia. During this time, the joint force members were observed in front of the factories.
According to the Industrial Police, workers’ dissatisfaction has arisen in several factories of Ashulia industrial area since last Sunday due to various demands including increase in wages and increments. Because of this, a general holiday was announced yesterday with closure of half a hundred factories located on both sides of the Tongi-Ashulia-EPZ road. Even today 46 factories including Hamim Group, Sharmeen Group, Envoy, NASA Group, Sterling are closed indefinitely under Section 13(1) of the Labor Act. Besides, in some factories, if the workers attend work and observe the strike, a general holiday is declared in the factory.
Ashulia Shilpa Police-1 Superintendent of Police Sarwar Alam said, ‘Today 46 factories are closed indefinitely under Section 13 (1) of the Labor Act in the face of workers’ agitation. Apart from this, the authorities have declared a general holiday in 9 more factories. He also said that the production in all other factories including DEPZ is normal. Most of the factories in the region are open. We have 775 garment factories here. 55 of them are closed. No untoward incident was reported anywhere.