Workers reject govt proposal to sell factory machines for partial wage payment

Staff Reporter

Workers of Gazipur’s TNZ Group have rejected a government proposal to sell factory machinery to partially clear their overdue wages before Eid. Labor Secretary AHM Safiqur Zaman informed protesting workers during a meeting at the Labor Building on Saturday that only 30 million taka could be arranged before Eid against total dues of 170 million taka.

At the tripartite meeting between government, factory owners and workers, the secretary said: “We’ve decided to sell all factory machinery to pay 20 million taka before Eid, with another 10 million from other sources. The remaining dues will be settled after Eid.”

Worker representative Shahin Islam immediately rejected the offer: “Our total dues including wages and bonuses stand at 170 million taka. We won’t accept this 30 million taka arrangement.” Workers announced they would continue their sit-in protest at the Labor Building on Monday.

The development comes after Labor Advisor M Sakhawat Hossain claimed at a Thursday press conference that workers’ dues had been cleared by selling factory vehicles – a claim workers denied the same day.

TNZ Group workers have been protesting since March 20 when their due wages and Eid bonuses weren’t paid. Owners stopped coming to office since then, workers alleged. On Monday, workers moved their protest from the Secretariat to the Labor Building premises.

As the secretary left the meeting, workers blocked his car demanding full payment. He stepped out to reassure them before departing with worker leaders’ assistance.