"I do not understand what to do. We even do not know when our last month's salary will be paid. We usually get salary on the 7th of month," said Mazeda.

Thousands of workers of DEPZ yesterday were desperately trying to know about the resumption of production and date for payment of their last month's salary. But tight security forced them to wait at Baipail and Ganakbari.

Mazeda earns Tk 2,380 per month with which she can hardly manage the expenses of her four-member family. She even can not meet the requirements of her one-year-old daughter.

The earnings of her husband who works at a factory outside the DEPZ are less than hers.

"Price of essentials including rice are hiking day by day while our salary remains the same. What should I do with my salary -- buy food or give house rent of Tk 1500?" said Mazeda.

Several DEPZ workers alleged that they were not given due payment for overtime work.

Many did not get production bonus and were expelled from the factory for protesting the injustice.

Though the wage of overtime work on day-off should be double the usual, in most cases workers did not get the amount.

Workers alleged that they did not even get due allowances as house rent, medical facilities, and tiffin from the owners.

"I was sacked last year from Savar Dyeing and Finishing Industries Limited [SDFIL] as I became vocal about my production bonus. I got production bonus only once during my eight-year career there," said Md Faruque Hossain, a former employee of SDFIL.

"The factory authorities did not even give me any termination benefit before expelling without any notice," he added.

A worker faces expulsion if he/she raises voice against any irregularity in the factory.

In such cases, the factory authorities make a worker sign papers regarding his/her involvement in illegal activities and then kick the worker out of the factory without giving any termination benefit, said a worker.

Over-time payment of the workers ranges between Tk 13 to 15 per hour which in most cases is inconsistent with their basic pay while in most cases, female workers are compelled to work at night even if they are unwilling.

The DEPZ authorities allegedly overlook such incidents.

"The GM went to the factory following our allegation and returned convinced about our sacking. He and some other high officials took money from the factory owner to make such incidents legal," Faruque said.