Workers' protests disrupt production at 529 garment factories, nearly 987,190 workers leave workplaces: BGMEA

Production has been disrupted at 529 garment factories in Dhaka, Gazipur, Mymensingh and the Savar-Ashulia area because of protests by garment workers. During this period, about 987,190 workers left their workplaces.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) gave the information in a report on Sunday (November 1). The report was prepared based on data from 2,134 garment factories in five industrial zones.

According to the BGMEA, the Gazipur and Mymensingh areas were the worst affected. There, 645,360 workers at 276 factories stopped work and left their workplaces. The two areas have a total of 836 garment factories.

Operations were disrupted at 185 factories in the Savar, Ashulia and Zirani areas. About 290,205 workers at those factories left their workplaces. The region has a total of 441 factories.

Operations were disrupted at 68 factories in Mirpur, under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). There, 51,625 workers left their workplaces. The Mirpur area has a total of 320 garment factories.

However, no disorder was reported at 197 factories in Narayanganj and 340 factories in Chattogram, according to the BGMEA report.

The disruption occurred amid a movement by garment workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, an end to blacklisting of workers, and reinstatement of dismissed workers.

Meanwhile, the government on Sunday formed a six-member wage board to review workers' wages.

Even as the wage board was formed, workers protested in Mirpur, Savar-Ashulia and Gazipur. Clashes with police, arson and highway blockades were also reported in some places, according to the report.