Gazipur Factory Closure Leaves 1,800 Workers Jobless
Photo: Agamir Somoy
A garment factory named ‘Unique Designers and Unique Washing Limited’ in the Board Bazar area of Gazipur city has been declared permanently closed by the authorities due to financial crisis and other issues. As a result, 1,800 workers and employees of the factory have suddenly lost their jobs and are facing uncertainty.
Gazipur Industrial Police Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Khalilur Rahman said the management declared the factory permanently closed due to financial difficulties. He added that the factory has effectively remained shut since June 16. However, the Industrial Police said that all outstanding wages, service benefits, and other dues of workers, officers, and employees will be paid in accordance with regulations.
A tripartite meeting was held with the management to settle the payment of overdue wages and legal dues of the workers. The meeting took place on Sunday morning at the office of the Superintendent of Police of Gazipur Industrial Police-2. Superintendent of Police Mohammad Amjad Hossain presided over the meeting.
Officials from the Industrial Police, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), and the Department of Labour attended the meeting. Managing Director Farid Ahmed represented the factory management. Leaders of various labor federations and worker representatives also joined the meeting.
Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Khalilur Rahman said that several decisions were taken with the consent of both parties regarding the payment of service benefits, overdue wages, and other dues of the workers following the factory closure.
According to the decisions of the meeting, workers will be paid the remaining 15 days of April and 18 days of May in overdue wages. All outstanding wages of officers and employees will also be paid. Since the workers have lost their jobs, they will receive an amount equivalent to 30 days of basic salary as notice pay. For each year of service, workers will receive service benefits at the rate of 20 days of basic salary. In addition, maternity benefits subject to proof, payment for earned leave, resignation benefits for resigned workers, and funds accumulated in various accounts will be paid. These dues are scheduled to be paid in a lump sum on July 27.
However, labor leaders have expressed strong dissatisfaction over the agreement. Shafiul Alam, President of the Gazipur metropolitan unit of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, alleged that the agreement reached on June 21 was not worker-friendly at all. He said that workers’ legal entitlements and compensation under labor law were not fully ensured, depriving hundreds of workers of their rightful benefits.
He further said that the wage, allowance, and bonus crisis that arose ahead of Eid had been resolved through tripartite discussions. However, despite that, the management chose to permanently shut down the factory instead of continuing operations, leaving hundreds of long-term workers unemployed at once and pushing their future into uncertainty.
Ordinary workers, who suddenly lost their jobs, are now in distress. Worker Saiful Islam said on Tuesday morning that he had been working at the factory for a long time while living in a rented house with his wife and two children. His mother and sister in his village also depend on his income. He said the sudden closure of the factory has left him in uncertainty.
Another worker, Halima Khatun, expressed anger, saying that the sudden closure has left them stranded. She said she has enrolled her daughter in a madrasa and is now worried about her education due to unemployment. She added that she does not know what to do next if she cannot find a new job, and questioned what would happen even after the promised payment of dues on July 27.
On the overall situation, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Amjad Hossain said that after lengthy discussions with all concerned, the management informed them of the decision to close the factory. However, he assured that all legal dues of workers, officers, and employees will be paid in accordance with existing laws and regulations.
