Labor leaders on Saturday have called on factory owners to reopen their units on Sunday, offering their full support to resume production in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector.
During a discussion at the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) headquarters on the ongoing labor unrest and possible solutions, leaders urged workers to return to their workplaces to restore normalcy and prevent further disruptions.
Labor leaders stressed the need for resuming work to stabilize the economy and address issues through appropriate channels.
They highlighted that strict measures would be enforced against those causing unrest, as factory owners threatened to shut down indefinitely if disruptions continued.
Amirul Haque Amin, President of the National Garment Workers Federation, assured that trade union leaders would collaborate with factory owners to ensure smooth operations.
He emphasized that both workers and factory owners must adhere to labor laws.
Amin noted that unrest has not occurred in Ashulia factories with established trade unions, despite factory owners’ general opposition to union formation.
Babul Akter, President of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, said they would persuade workers to avoid disruptive actions and seek peaceful resolutions.
He urged workers to return to their jobs and refrain from participating in destructive activities influenced by outsiders.
Babul also called on factory owners to keep their factories open, promising union support for their operation.
He attributed worker dissatisfaction and unrest to poor treatment by mid-level management, which exacerbates feelings of unfairness in the workplace.
Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan urged factory owners to keep their factories open, warning that strict action would be taken against troublemakers.
He made this statement as factory owners sought government permission to close factories under Section 13/1 of the Bangladesh Labor Act due to the unrest.
Adilur warned that anyone attempting to close factories and jeopardize the economy would be held accountable.
BGMEA President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam said that while most factories in Ashulia resumed production on Saturday, some had to halt operations as workers left at noon.
Factory owners pressured BGMEA to close factories under Section 13/1 of the Bangladesh Labor Act, which would enforce a ‘no work, no pay’ policy indefinitely.
He announced that if unrest continued, factory owners in Ashulia would initiate closures under this section starting Sunday.
In response, the Industry Adviser urged factory owners to keep their factories open, assuring them that the government would implement special measures to address the situation.
Labor Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan said the government would take strong action against those destabilizing the industry and called on trade union leaders to support smooth operations.
He also urged factory owners to address workers’ valid demands promptly rather than dismissing them as conspiracy.
Major General Md Moin Khan, General Officer Commanding of the 9th Infantry Division, identified three key factors behind the unrest: outsider attacks, a mix of logical and illogical worker demands, and disputes over the jhut business.
He noted that the army and law enforcement had controlled the outsider attacks but emphasized that workers’ demands should be addressed through a tripartite initiative involving all parties.
Khan also suggested that political leaders manage their party activists to resolve jhut business issues.
Deputy Inspector General of Industrial Police Md Sibgat Ullah reported that over 9,000 factories, both RMG and non-RMG, fall under the jurisdiction of Industrial Police, with 56 percent still owing wages for August.
He urged factory owners to pay workers on time to help calm the situation.
Hameem Group Chairman A K Azad stated that operating factories would be impossible without enhanced security, citing a lack of valid justification for the unrest.
He noted that while global buyers have favored Bangladesh for its low costs and substantial production capacity, many, including those from the US and Australia, are reconsidering their visits due to security concerns.
Ananta Group Managing Director Inamul Haq Khan Bablu expressed confusion over the closure of his factory, which had been shut for 13 days before reopening on Saturday.
Rising Group Managing Director Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu stressed the need for factory reopening and government-secured safety.
He urged all parties—factory owners, labor leaders, and workers—to adhere to labor laws and hold accountable those who violate them.
Babu also highlighted the issue of some influential factory owners ignoring valid worker demands, negatively impacting other factories.
Meanwhile, most RMG factories in Savar, Ashulia, and Gazipur industrial belts resumed operations on Saturday after over two weeks of protests.
However, around 49 factories, including some in Ashulia, remained closed or suspended operations.