Staff Reporter :
At least 1500 garment workers have lost their jobs for demonstrating protests against the owners’ reluctance to increase their pay.
The protest led to a week-long closure of 59 factories in Ashulia Garment Industrial Zone.
“Factory owners have sacked around 1,500 workers over unrest for wage hike,” Nur Nabi, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Savar, told The New Nation yesterday.
He said the owners filed five cases also against the workers.
“All the factories have resumed their operations on Monday and workers’ attendance was recorded over 90 per cent,” said Nur Nabi.
Police arrested 30 workers including seven Union Leaders and a television reporter.
The Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF), however, put the number of sacked workers about 3,500 and said dozens of protest organisers had been forced into hiding.
“At least 3,500 workers have been sacked by owners and 50 leaders have gone into hiding,” Babul Akhter, President of the GBIWF told The New Nation on Tuesday.
He accused that police have used Special Power Act to detain Union Leaders and workers.
But Ashulia Police said only those, who were involved in violent protest, had been arrested.
