Ensure transportation, jabs for workers first
Different organisations yesterday protested the government decision to reopen factories from today. They said it was a very imprudent decision to open the factories without ensuring public transport for workers and their health security.
The government has decided to allow export-oriented factories to reopen from today amid the ongoing "strict lockdown" enforced to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The cabinet division in a circular issued on Friday said all export-oriented industries and factories will be out of the purview of restrictions from August 1 considering the "overall situation".
Protesting the decision, Bangladesh Garment Sramik Sanghati organised a human chain in front of the national museum in the capital's Shahbagh while other organisations issued press statements in this regard.
At the human chain, Garment Sramik Sanghati demanded that workers' salary should not be cut if they are unable to join work due to the ongoing "strict lockdown".
They also demanded mass vaccination and testing programmes for workers and transportation for them, maintaining health protocols, before reopening the factories.
Taslima Akhter, president of the organisation said, "Factory workers are crowding in roads because they know if they don't join in due time, they will either be sacked or face a salary cut. No one is ensuring them anything… even though the income from export rose by 15 percent last year."
Thousands of workers are facing harassment for lack of public transport. They are returning from their village homes on foot, by rickshaw, van, truck or covered-van amid the pandemic, she said.
The organisation's general secretary Julhasnain Babu, financial secretary Prabir Saha and office secretary Musa Kalimullah also spoke at the event.
Meanwhile, workers from different areas including Savar, Dhaka, Narayanganj and Chattogram expressed solidarity with them.
Yesterday, Bangladesh OSK Garments and Textile Workers Federation in a press statement said the decision to reopen factories was an arbitrary one, which will only protect the factory owners' interests.
"The decision came at a time when experts suggested extending the lockdown," said the statement signed by its president Mohammad Yeasin and general secretary Prokash Dutta.
Garments Sramik Oikko Forum and Bangladesh Trade Union Sangha also issued statements against the decision.
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