Garment workers protest in Savar, Ashulia, Mirpur and Gazipur demanding Tk 30,000 minimum wage, many factories closed
Garment workers have suddenly protested in the country's important industrial areas of Savar, Ashulia, Mirpur and Gazipur with several demands, including setting the minimum wage at Tk 30,000. A tense situation prevails in those areas.
Alongside disruption to production in various manufacturing industries during the protests, highways were blocked and incidents of vandalism took place. One report said holidays were declared in at least 30 factories, while another report mentioned holidays in 80 factories after Saturday's protests.
On Saturday morning, garment workers blocked roads and held protest programmes in Dhaka's Mirpur and Savar areas. In Kaliakair of Gazipur, the Dhaka-Tangail highway was also blocked in protest. Traffic congestion was created on the busy roads at the time and public suffering increased.
Sector insiders believe that behind this sudden unrest there is not only a set of immediate demands, but also a mismatch between wages and market prices, as well as provocation by various groups. Reports raised the question of why this worker unrest erupted suddenly—whether it is only about a wage increase demand or whether there is another agenda behind it.
Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said a wage board will be formed today (Sunday) to determine a new wage for garment workers. He commented that in this situation there is no reason for workers to remain in movement.
On Saturday, the labour minister held a meeting at the Shram Bhaban in Dhaka's Bijoynagar with representatives of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). After that meeting too, he repeated the same point—that the wage board will be formed on Sunday.
The workers' main demand is to set the minimum monthly salary at Tk 30,000. Sector insiders cited the lack of alignment between current wages and market prices as one of the main reasons for the dissatisfaction.
Production was disrupted in the industrial areas of Savar, Ashulia, Mirpur and Gazipur because of the protests. Highway blockades brought vehicle movement to a halt and suffering spread to surrounding areas as well.
The labour minister has announced that the wage board will be formed today, Sunday. Once the process of determining a new wage begins, attention will be on which direction the workers' movement takes in the industrial areas.
