Garment workers block Dhaka-Mymensingh highway demanding better benefits

Workers of Golden Refit Garments Limited blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Bagher Bazar, Gazipur, on Monday morning, demanding an increase in their attendance bonuses, night shift allowances, improved tiffin quality, and timely payment of annual leave benefits.

The workers began their protest at 8am on Monday, bringing traffic to a standstill. It wasn't until 11:30am, when the factory management agreed to their demands, that the workers dispersed. Traffic finally returned to normal by noon.

Speaking to the media, one of the protesting workers said: "Yesterday, the workers of Mondol Intimates factory protested and had their demands met. We also informed our factory authorities but received no response. That's why we are blocking the highway to demand our rightful benefits."

The workers’ demands included increasing the attendance bonus from Tk500 to Tk1,000 for regular workers, and from Tk300 to Tk800 for helpers. They also called for an increase in the tiffin bill from Tk22 to Tk40 and night shift allowance from Tk50 to Tk80 for operators.

Additionally, workers requested an extra five minutes' grace period for attendance, as well as action against harassment or unprofessional behaviour by factory officials.

Suman Mia, inspector of Gazipur Industrial Police (Bagher Bazar Zone), said: “The workers had been blocking the highway since 8:30am. After their demands were accepted, they left the road by noon, and traffic resumed after four hours.”

Rezaul Karim, assistant general manager (AGM) of Human Resources and Administration at Golden Refit Garments, confirmed that the workers’ demands had been met.

Meanwhile, workers of Cocola Food Products Limited, located in Mouchak, Kaliakoir, also protested on Monday morning, blocking the Dhaka-Tangail highway for half an hour.

Police and army personnel arrived at the scene at 9:30am, dispersing the crowd.

Three individuals were arrested for illegal entry, creating chaos, and attempting to vandalize the factory.

The unrest at Cocola Food Products comes amid a larger wave of factory closures in the area. Recently, three factories — including Eku Knit in Bakhtarpur and Mahmud Denim in Safipur Bazar — were shut down indefinitely due to ongoing labour movements.

According to Gazipur Industrial Police Inspector Nitai Chandra Sarkar, despite the closure, some workers forcefully entered the factories.

"Three people have been detained, and the situation is now under control," he said.

Workers in these factories have been demanding a raise in their minimum wage from Tk8,000 to Tk12,500, claiming that the current wage is insufficient to support their families amidst rising living costs.