Production halted at 50 Ashulia garment factories
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Production has stopped at 50 garment factories in the Ashulia industrial area of Savar due to labor unrest and work stoppages.
Industrial Police-1 Superintendent of Police Mominul Islam confirmed the matter. Authorities declared a general holiday in 10 factories on Saturday morning, while another 40 factories remain closed indefinitely under Section 13(1) of the Labor Act following prior labor unrest.
However, authorities reported no new incidents across the Savar and Ashulia industrial zones from Saturday morning until noon.
According to police, workers at various Ashulia factories have been demonstrating for several days to press a three-point demand, including a minimum wage of Tk 30,000. Although the government established a wage board to address the issue, officials have yet to announce a new salary structure, leaving workers in a state of anger and dissatisfaction due to the lack of a specific announcement.
In continuation of these demonstrations, workers at several factories reported to their workplaces on time on Saturday morning but initiated a work stoppage instead of joining production. Management then declared a general holiday in those 10 factories, prompting workers to leave their workplaces.
Meanwhile, although labor unrest occurred earlier at several factories in Savar’s Hemayetpur area, the situation there remained calm on Saturday, with normal production activities continuing across most factories.
Superintendent of Police Mominul said additional police are deployed to maintain the law and order situation in the industrial area.
