Toy factory workers at Uttara EPZ agitate
About 2000 workers of a Hong Kong based high-tech toy factory at Uttara Export Processing Zone (EPZ) at Sangalshi village in Sadar upazila agitated on Sunday to realise their nine-point demand.
During the agitation, the workers held a rally and later vandalised roadside trees and detained a jeep carrying factory officials.
The workers alleged that the authorities compel them to work for 12 hours seven days a week. But they do not get any overtime and if anyone protests it he loses job, they said.
They also alleged that pregnant female workers do not get maternal leave while workers are fined over trivial matters and the fine money is realised from monthly wage.
As the agitators became unruly, the EPZ authorities called police and a team led by an ASP drove them out of factory premises.
Later mayor of Nilphamari municipality, also district Awami League president, Dewan Kamal Ahmed and two local union parishad chairmen Abdul Mazid and Abdul Mannan requested the workers to join work but it got poor response. Only 52 workers out of about 2000 returned to their workplaces.
Contacted, manager of Sonic (Bangladesh) Ltd Mostafiz, refuting all the allegations, said that the authorities met all demands of the agitating workers and the situation was improving.
General Manager of Uttara EPZ SM Akhtar Alam Mostafi said that the agitators withdrew their programme and joined work.
However, several workers told this correspondent that they would continue their agitation until their demands were met.
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