3 DEPZ factories shut over unrest fear

Trackback URL

Download PDF

Apprehending violence among workers, three garments factories owned by foreign investors at Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) in Savar have been closed for indefinite periods in the last 15 days.

Sources noted that as Ramadan has begun, labour unrest might increase on eve of the Eid-ul-Fitr in demand for wages, bonus and other facilities.

Of the three factories, Indian-owned GB Garments was closed on Sunday.

Around 400 workers of the factory were carrying out agitations demanding eight-day Eid vacation instead of six-day now.

Earlier, Korean factory Softex Garments with 2,200 workers and Taiwan-owned A-One Garments having 3,500 workers were closed in the third week of last month for similar reasons.

Another factory — Hope Lon (BD) Ltd — was closed on August 24 for unrest among workers. It resumed production to days later following an understanding with the owners.

Around 20 garments factories at the DEPZ were closed for various periods following unrest among workers at different times in the last one year.

Meanwhile, 151 garments factories and related units out of 7,500 across the country witnessed labour unrest over the first eight months of this year.

Asked about closure of three factories now, Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) General Manager AZM Azizur Rahman said, “ Owners have closed the factories to keep those safe and avert any untoward incidents. Before doing so, they had informed us.”

The general manager said, “Workers go for work stoppages and violent actions even on silly grounds. And owners are forced to close their factories to avert damage of valuables.”

He went on, “We try to help resolve the problems concerning wages and other facilities of workers. But they appear reluctant to take our help.”

He mentioned that there are 96 factories at the DEPZ. So, closure of two or three units would not affect overall production that much.

Leave a Reply