Production remained suspended at 150 garment factories across the country on Wednesday due to labor unrest. Many workers left factories after joining in the morning and registering their attendance, while at others, workers did not return after the lunch break. In this situation, authorities declared several factories indefinitely closed, invoking Section 13(1) of the Labor Act. Under this section, the no work no pay policy takes effect, meaning workers will not receive wages for the duration of the closure.
Owners are leaning toward closing factories as production has been disrupted by labor unrest. They have demanded that factories where workers refuse to join work be declared closed under Section 13(1) of the Labor Act.
Owners Seek Permission to Close Factories Under Section 13(1)
During a meeting with the garment manufacturers and exporters association regarding Wednesday’s overall situation, owners sought permission to shut down factories. Most factory owners from Savar, Ashulia, and Gazipur attended the meeting.
Owners claimed that production has been disrupted day after day due to labor unrest. Workers come to the factories in the morning and register attendance but do not take part in work, or they leave during breaks and do not return. Consequently, keeping the factories operational has become difficult.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan stated that they see no significant improvement in the situation. On Wednesday, authorities of 150 factories were forced to declare holidays as workers joined work and then left.
Production Disrupted for Two Weeks
According to owners, production has been disrupted at the affected factories for about two weeks due to labor unrest, causing financial losses. As this situation has persisted for a long time, it has become difficult for factory owners to manage the circumstances.
Although the government-formed Minimum Wage Board has begun its activities to redetermine wages, labor unrest has not subsided. Consequently, owners of the affected factories have been demanding factory closures by invoking Section 13(1) of the Labor Act over the past few days.
Decision to Implement New Wage Structure
During the very first meeting of the Minimum Wage Board formed to redetermine workers’ wages, a decision was made to implement a new wage structure starting next month. However, unrest has not ended in the factories despite this initiative.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said that owners also sought permission to close factories under Section 13(1) during Wednesday’s meeting. However, the association advised them to exercise patience for one more day.
According to him, if factories are closed under this section, not only the owners but also the workers will suffer, because workers will not have the opportunity to receive wages while factories remain shut. However, several factories have already been declared closed in accordance with this section of the labor law.
Amid labor unrest, production shutdowns, and wage uncertainties, the situation in the garment sector has not yet normalized.
Production remains halted at 150 garment factories in the country due to labor unrest, with owners demanding indefinite closures by applying Section 13(1) of the Labor Act.
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