Protests Disrupt Production at 681 Factories Across Bangladesh

Ongoing protests by garment workers demanding higher wages disrupted production at at least 681 factories across Bangladesh’s industrial zones on Monday, including 679 ready-made garment (RMG) factories.

Production had been disrupted at 529 garment factories on Sunday, indicating a further increase in the impact of the unrest.

Workers have been protesting since last week in Savar, Gazipur and other industrial areas over their demand for higher wages. The Ministry of Labour formed a minimum wage board on Sunday to determine wages for garment workers, but the move failed to ease the unrest.

Protests continued on Monday in Gazipur, Savar, Ashulia and Narayanganj. Clashes and chases between workers and police were reported in some areas.

According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), workers left their workplaces without working at 679 garment factories on Monday.

The affected factories included 65 in Mirpur, 382 in Gazipur and nine in Savar, Ashulia and Zirabo, according to the information provided. A total of 1,692,782 workers were employed at these factories.

Production was also disrupted at a local footwear factory in Kaliakair, Gazipur. Although production began in the morning, the authorities were forced to give workers a holiday around 9am following pressure from protesters. Production at Pickard Bangladesh in Ashulia was also affected.

To address the situation in the industrial areas, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed met representatives of factory owners at the Secretariat on Monday morning. Later in the afternoon, the home minister and Labour Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury held a meeting with labour leaders.

BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said factory owners did not want to shut their facilities, but the prevailing situation had made it difficult to continue production.

He said they would try to keep factories open on Tuesday, although closures might become necessary if conditions did not improve. He expressed hope that efforts by labour leaders and other stakeholders would help restore normalcy.