The intensity of the movement may have lessened, but labour unrest remains a pressing issue in the industrial sector, particularly in the ready-made garment industry.

Workers from various factories on Monday staged demonstrations and blocked roads in Savar and Gazipur, demanding increased wages and attendance bonuses.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has called on the government to provide interest-free loans to 39 of its member companies that have been severely impacted by the labour unrest, aiming to ensure that workers receive their wages and allowances for September.

The ongoing labour unrest started since August 29, on Monday lead to shut at least nine RMG factories in Ashulia, Gazipur and Dhaka city, industry owners said.

Out of nine RMG factories, seven units are located in Ashulia, one in Mirpur and one in Gazipur, industry owners said.

Meantime, workers from a garment factory blocked the Chandra-Nabinagar road in Gazipur, voicing various demands, including an increase in the attendance bonus.

Workers from Radial International Limited staged a protest and blocked the road on Monday afternoon.

As a result of the demonstration, traffic came to a standstill on both sides of the road, causing significant inconvenience for passengers.

According to industrial police, workers at the factory protested early last week for various demands, including an increase in the attendance bonus, and although factory authorities initially assured them that their demands would be met, these promises were not fulfilled.

As a result, the workers protested in front of the factory on Monday 1:00pm, and at one point, the agitated workers blocked the road.

Workers withdrew their blockade at around 5:00pm upon the request of law enforcement agencies.

On the other hand, workers at Akij Food and Beverage Limited protested in Dhamrai, demanding nine points, including a wage increase and weekend leave.

The workers began their protest in front of the factory and blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway for about half an hour, starting at 6:00 am.

Ashulia Industrial Police superintendent Mohammad Sarowar Alam said that the daily basis workers of Akij Foods staged demonstration in front of the factory.

He also said that seven readymade garment factories remained closed or suspended production on Monday in Ashulia over labour protest as workers either did not work or left the respective workplaces after joining in the morning.

In light of the unrest, Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, the president of BGMEA, addressed a letter to Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Sunday, highlighting that 39 companies are facing severe financial difficulties.

This is largely due to the suspension of production activities in their factories for 20 days as a consequence of the labour unrest.

Despite the halt in operations at these factories for 20 days, a total of 56,351 workers are owed Tk 58.62 crore in wages and allowances for the month of September, the letter read.

‘Currently, the changing political landscape in the country, following the mass uprising of students, has prompted foreign competitors and some self-interested groups within the country to conspire against our largest export sector. This has led to ongoing labour unrest in the garment industry,’ the BGMEA president said in his letter.

He claimed that particularly in the Savar and Ashulia areas, vested interests have engaged in vandalism and looting, often with the support of local individuals.

As a result, many industrial establishments have been closed for nearly 20 days, and several others continue to struggle to resume normal production operations, Rafiq said.

‘Ongoing export orders are at risk of cancellation due to labour unrest, as buyers are unable to receive their products within the specified lead times and many are now requesting discounts,’ he said.

The BGMEA president also said that it was important to note that even when production activities were halted, companies were obligated to cover all fixed costs, including wages for workers and employees.

‘In this situation we request interest-free loans on easy terms for the 39 companies affected by labour unrest in the garment industry, to ensure they can pay wages and allowances for September to the workers,’ he added.