Labour Unrest and Security Concerns: All Garment Factories in Ashulia, Savar and Gazipur May Shut Down from Tomorrow

Staff Reporter

Due to ongoing labor unrest and overall insecurity, the owners of ready-made garment factories in Savar, Ashulia, and parts of Gazipur may decide to close indefinitely from tomorrow, Sunday, November 15th.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers Association (BGMEA) has said that factories can be closed under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labor Act, 2006 (‘No work, no wages’).

This information was given by the organization’s president, Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, at an emergency press conference organized at the BGMEA head office in Uttara, the capital, on Saturday, November 14. Earlier, an emergency meeting was held after 12 noon with the participation of about 200 factory owners belonging to BGMEA and BKMEA.

At the press conference, the BGMEA president said, “Almost all the owners who participated in the exchange of views expressed the opinion that there is no logic in continuing the discussion at the wage board unless the overall safety of the factories is ensured. The owners are being forced to take this difficult yet inevitable decision after deeply reviewing the overall situation and the safety of the industry.”

He further clarified that under Section 13(1) of the Labor Act, no trade organization can unilaterally close a factory. However, due to the ongoing chaotic situation, the factory owners concerned are being forced to close the factories on their own initiative as they are unable to keep production running.

Statistics on closed and idle factories (as of November 14th)

• Already closed (under Section 13/1): 55 factories.
• Could not resume production despite efforts: 92 factories (these may be closed under Section 13(1) from tomorrow).
• Total production disrupted: 147 factories.
• Number of workers affected: According to BGMEA, if each factory has an average of 2,000 workers, the workplaces of about 3 lakh workers have become unusable today.

Owners’ position and call to the government

Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu said that at the request of the government and the organization, every effort was made to keep the factory open despite the extreme instability for the last 12 to 14 days. But due to the lack of a favorable environment for production, it is no longer possible.

Highlighting the importance of factories in the region to the national economy and exports, he urged the government to take strict steps to bring the law and order situation in the industrial area under control as soon as possible. At the same time, he requested all concerned, including the labor party, government, civil society and the media, to play a positive role in overcoming the crisis.