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A total of 444 incidents of labour unrest took place in 374 factories including RMG in April this year in different industrial zones across the country mainly over non-payment of wages, official data reveals.
Total 279 incidents of labour unrest were recorded in 179 factories in March.
Besides, workers of 541 factories are yet to get March wages as of Thursday even though the month of April has ended, according to Industrial Police (IP) data.
Workers of eight garment factories in Gazipur, three in Naranaynj and four in Ashulia demonstrated on Thursday on different issues, including wage payment for February and March and reduction in March wages, according to the IP.
Among 541 factories which have not paid wages, 349 are of non-RMG (readymade garment) type while seven are operated under Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and the rest 185 belong to textile and RMG categories.
According to the IP, 89 out of 1882 member factories of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) under its jurisdiction did not pay wages as of Thursday.
Total 71 out of 1,101 units registered with Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and 25 out of 389 member factories of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) did not pay wages as of Thursday in six industrial belts under the IP jurisdiction.
A total of 364 factories under BEPZA and 3,866 non-RMG factories are under the jurisdiction of the IP.
Industrial Police sources said a total of 2,278 units remained open on Thursday. Of them, 821 are non-RMG units and 270 are BEPZA listed units.
Of the reopened factories, 867 are members of the BGMEA, 223 are registered with BKMEA and 97 are listed with BTMA.
BGMEA, however, claimed until April 23, more than 98 per cent workers of its active 2,274 units received March wages and other allowances. About 2.42 million workers are employed in its active 2,274 units. Its official website said more than 4,500 units are registered with the trade body.