For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Eight factories operated by Pacific Group in the Chattogram EPZ have been declared closed indefinitely following worker protests.
On Thursday night, the owners said the factories had been closed under Section 12(2) of the EPZ Labour Act 2019.
The factories closed are Pacific Jeans-1, Pacific Jeans-2, Pacific Attire, Pacific Accessories, Pacific Workwears, Universal Jeans, HT Fashion, and Jeans 2000, bdnews24.com reports.
Pacific Group Chief Operating Officer (COO) Suhrid Chowdhury said, “The factory was declared closed after the workers protested on Thursday. The owner announced the indefinite closure of the factory of the factory. It will take effect from Saturday.”
Workers protested in front of various factories of the Pacific Group in different parts of the EPZ from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Thursday. It was alleged that factory officials were assaulted during the protest.
A worker of Pacific Group, who did not reveal his name, said that they had been protesting for a few days but things took a violent turn on Thursday as the workers beat up many officials.
The factory closure notice noted that some workers had halted work on October 14 to observe an “illegal strike”.
Despite notices from the company, the factory workers continued their “unruly behaviour” on October 15 and 16, it said. At one point, the workers started fighting among themselves, vandalised the factory, and physically assaulted other workers and employees, it said.
According to the notice, such behaviour by the factory workers amounted to an illegal strike as per the Bangladesh EPZ Labor Act, 2019. Under the circumstances and due to the workers' protests, it is not possible to continue the factory work in any way, it added.
In February, workers at Pacific Casual Limited, a subsidiary of the Pacific Group, launched protests to push for a 22-point list of demands. Clashes had also occurred at the time, prompting owners to shut down two units of the factory. Later, the workers rejoined after paying a bond.
On October 9, workers and employees of Pacific Group launched protests alleging police harassment.
Protests were held in several factories on October 14 and expanded to all the group’s factories on October 15, but there were no reports of clashes. Clashes eventually broke out on Thursday.