RMG industry struggles due to labour unrests, protests in tough economy

Labour unrest is rapidly spreading across garment factories, triggered by seemingly minor incidents and perceived trivial demands.

Despite regular payment of wages and allowances, workers' demands appear to be increasing unabated.

Factory owners are facing severe disruptions as workers resort to work stoppages, road blockades, and refusals to join work under various pretexts.

These crises are compelling some factory authorities to declare temporary closures.

Factory owners report that demands range from the dismissal of managers to lunch allowances, heat allowances, overtime bonuses, and additional breakfast costs.

Workers frequently halt work, making the employers feel increasingly hostage to their employees.

Tensions have escalated into clashes among workers from different factories.

On Sunday (12 January) workers of Adams Caps and Textiles Limited in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (EPZ) staged protests, leaving work at noon and not returning.

Observations on-site revealed both male and female workers participating in demonstrations on the roads, presenting a 13-point list of demands.

A faction engaged in discussions with the factory managers and owners.

Protesters obstructed the road, preventing movement from south to north. Following unmet demands, workers vandalised the factory in the afternoon.

The previous day, a clash between workers of JMS and Merimo factories left 60 workers injured.

Military, naval, border, industrial police, and Chattogram Metropolitan Police forces intervened to control the situation.

JMS, a Sino-Bangladeshi joint venture, employs 2,500 workers, while the Korean-owned Merimo factory employs 4,200.

These incidents forced the closure of three factories.

Earlier, Pacific Jeans factory workers protested over lunch provision issues.

Workers of CIS Text, operated by the Asia Group, demanded better quality meals.

External male workers in a Korean factory initiated protests and vandalism over employment issues.

Such protests and vandalism have become a persistent issue in Chattogram’s garment sector.

Reports indicate that similar to Dhaka, Gazipur, Ashulia, and Narayanganj, worker demands are rising in Chattogram.

Large industrial groups in Chattogram are struggling to meet payroll obligations and are compelled to halt operations over seemingly trivial issues, which the owners describe as unfortunate.

Chattogram houses 606 garment factories.

The sector suffered a 12-day closure in July-August due to student protests and floods, causing losses of Tk4,800 crore. 

Factory owners are now overwhelmed by the financial strain of paying workers.

EPZ Executive Director Md Abdus Sobhan told the press, "Workers are engaging in altercations over trivial issues and initiating protests over imaginary demands. While EPZ factories operate under strict discipline, these recurrent protests and vandalism are regrettable. A third party seems to be instigating these events, which harm the country’s interests. I urge the workers to maintain peace. Workers are now demanding heat allowances, citing excessive heat, a request that is baseless and unheard of in the country."

Former BGMEA vice president Syed Nazrul Islam said, "Payments are delayed as buyers hold back funds, and banks are not disbursing money. The entire garment sector faces multifaceted problems. Timely delivery to Europe and America has been disrupted, exacerbating the challenges faced by factories amidst ongoing worker unrest."