Two protesting garment workers fall ill

Two more workers fell seriously ill late at night after the fifth day of the continuous sit-in program by TNZ Group workers in front of the Department of Labour. Late tonight on Thursday, the two sick female workers were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Earlier, multiple workers had also fallen ill over the past two days. Illnesses among the workers are increasing due to the sit-in program under the scorching sun, getting drenched in rain, extreme heat, irregular meals, and lack of sleep.

Many of the workers participating in the movement have exhausted their savings, making the food crisis acute. A total of 5,219 workers from 8 factories under TNZ Group have been agitating for months demanding unpaid wages and bonuses. According to them, their total dues from the institution stand at Tk 54,12,67,000. Many workers have one to three months of wages and Eid bonuses pending, and some have not even received dues from a year ago. Workers have been agitating with this demand since March 23.

Although partially paid at various times, the full dues have not been paid yet. Most recently, during a tripartite meeting at the Ministry of Labour on April 22, a promise was made to pay all dues by May 7. However, it was not implemented even after the stipulated time passed. As payments were not made by May 7, workers enforced a blockade program in Gazipur on May 8, where at least 20 people were injured in clashes with law enforcement agencies. Since May 12, they have started a sit-in in front of the Department of Labour in Dhaka.

Workers have taken a firm stance to realize their demands. However, many are falling ill due to physical weakness and diseases resulting from the continuous sit-in program. Insiders have stated that the rate of illness is increasing due to lack of food and rest. The humanitarian crisis is becoming acute day by day, but so far no initiative for emergency assistance or intervention has been observed from the government.