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Violent agitation by garment workers seeking wage hike spread fast Tuesday to different industrial zones in Dhaka and adjoining areas, disrupting production in many units of the export industry.
Firsthand reports said a series of clashes took place in the industrial belts on the day, too, in the wake of prolonged agitations by the workers on demand for wage hike-incidentally coinciding with last four days of political troubles over election issue.
A triangular clash among readymade garment workers, police and Awami League activists at Mirpur-11 in the morning on the day left several people injured, it was learned.
Although the workers claimed that three were killed in the clashes, duty officer at Pallabi Police Station Salma Begum, however, dismissed the claim as rumour.
Meanwhile, the apex trade body of apparel makers-Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA)--at a press briefing held on the day said factories might cease to operate in the event of any untoward situation arising out of the labour unrest, in accordance with the existing labour law.
"Factory owners can close their respective factories according to labour-law provision 13 (1) if workers don't want to work and go out from factories or outsiders vandalize, for the sake of the industry and country and to protect lives of workers and property," BGMEA president Faruque Hassan said at the press briefing.
The association chief maintains that factory owners have the right to follow 13 (1) provision of the labour law that provides for 'no work, no pay' as an action to save lives of workers and protect property.
He urged the law-enforcing agencies to provide security to industries, including readymade garments, and ensure safety for people and property without "harassing" any workers, employees and factory owners.
He spoke at the press briefing at the BGMEA office at Uttara in the city as the current spate of labour unrest spread like forest-fires across different industrial zones in the country.
Garment workers in the Ashulia-Gazipur belt have continued their agitation for the last eight days since October 23 to press home their demand for enhancing minimum wages to Tk 23,000 and payment of arrears.
The BGMEA president also urged workers to refrain from letting loose anarchy that tarnishes image of the sector and causes foreign buyers to lose their confidence.
"You would lose jobs if buyers go away from the country, and it is not acceptable," he said in urging them to join work.
The BGMEA president said almost every day factories are getting closed because of the ongoing unrest at the factories.
Explaining the labour-law provision in section 13 (1), he said: "There would be no work, no pay."
However, Mr Hassan said the factory owners were trying to continue operations even in the face of the unrest.
So far, two garment workers died in the unrest while outsiders set ablaze a factory, he told the press.
Labour unrest and vandalising factories are unacceptable while wage negotiations are going on in the wage board, he said, adding the wage board has the time to announce the wages until November 30 and the new wage would be effective from December 01.
Speaking at the briefing, former BGMEA president Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury said in most of the cases outsiders are instigating the real workers and vandalising factories.
"The workers have been showing their responsibility as they are responsible," he said, adding that a quarter might be trying to take the advantage of politics from the industrial incident.
AK Azad, managing director of Ha-Meem Group, said at Ashulia and Mouchak outsiders are instigating the workers and they are vandalising the factories.
Meantime, rights groups called on factory owners to announce their desired wages immediately to avert further untoward situation and compensate the families of the deceased workers and sought punishment of those involved in the killings.
Expressing deep concern over the recent turmoil in the RMG sector Industriall Bangladesh Council (IBC) at a press conference held on the day at Dhaka Reporters Unity strongly condemned the killing of RMG worker Rasel Hawlader in police action.
They sought legal action against the police officials responsible for this tragic incident and called upon all apparel workers to show restraint and refrain from engaging in any unlawful activities.
IBC President Amirul Haque Amin said, "A compensation of Tk 2.5 million should be provided to the family of Rasel Hawlader. Furthermore, legal proceedings must be initiated against the police officials responsible for this tragic incident."
The administration should refrain from any forms of harassment and abusive actions against the workers. There should be an end to all kinds of oppressive behaviour and unjust treatment, he stated.
The IBC also demanded release of arrested labour leaders and the withdrawal of all "false" cases filed against them.
The IBC leader called on workers to continue production maintaining peaceful environment amid the current situation and said, "IBC does not endorse or support any acts of vandalism or roadblocks. The organisation cannot be held responsible for any such activities, and IBC will not bear any liability for these actions."
It also reiterated other demands, including Tk 23,000 monthly minimum wage with a 65-percent basic payment, a 10-percent annual increment, and a grading adjustment four instead of seven.
Bangladesh Garment Workers Unity Council (BGWUC) in a separate statement attributed the lengthy process of wage board in fixing new wage structure to the current labour unrest.
"The situation is getting worse as law enforcing agencies exercise their power to control the labour protest," it said in the statement.
It called on government and factory owners to take immediate measures to announce the desired wages, warning that otherwise they have to take responsibility for any untoward incident.
The council also called on workers to go back to their respective workplaces and engage in production activities, saying that they are aware until the new wage structures are announced.
Condemning the workers' death, they also sought compensation for the deceased workers and punishment for those responsible.
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