Factory owners accept workers' legitimate demands under movement after dismissing them as unreasonable

In Tongi, Gazipur, following the legitimate demands of workers of two garment factories, the factory owners ultimately showed respect to their demands. Earlier, the authorities had dismissed the workers' demands as unreasonable, but following continuous movement and protests by the workers, the factory owners decided to accept their demands.

According to workers and factory sources, the workers of the two factories demanded payment of their earned annual leave allowance, Eid bonus on 25 March, an advance of half the current month's salary for workers who have completed one year of service, and payment of salary by the 29th of the current month for workers whose service period is less than one year. Regarding this, the factory authorities held rounds of discussions with worker representatives for several days, labeling the workers' demands as unreasonable.

Subsequently, to realize their demands, the workers observed a work stoppage inside the factories last Friday and yesterday. Yesterday, Saturday, during the protests, incidents of machinery vandalism occurred at the factory. Later in the afternoon, the agitated workers left the factory. Meanwhile, coming to join work this morning, the workers became agitated again upon seeing an indefinite factory closure notice on the main gate.

Later at noon, to bring the situation under control, a team of the army, Gazipur Industrial Police, and the factory authorities held discussions and decided to accept the legitimate demands of the workers. However, workers of the two factories did not join work today. When asked, Imrul Kayser Sujon, an official of the factory's human resources department, said that the workers' demands have been accepted. Most of their demands are unreasonable. The workers carried out vandalism inside the factory.

To protect vandalism and the lives and properties of officials and employees, a notice hanging indefinitely closing the factory was posted. Talking with the army, police, and worker representatives, a decision has been taken to accept the demands. If workers do not make unreasonable demands again, the factory will remain open from tomorrow, Monday.

Regarding this matter, Ismail Hossain, inspector of Gazipur Industrial Police (Tongi zone), said that following discussions coordinated by worker representatives, the army, factory authorities, and industrial police, the factory owners have accepted the workers' demands. The factory will reopen tomorrow. Workers will join work.