Two RMG units go into layoffs amid labour unrest

Two export-oriented garment factories in Rupganj upazila went into layoffs yesterday for an indefinite period following two days of labour unrest that broke out amid a demand for increased minimum monthly wage.
The workers of Arrow Apparels Anirban and Arrow Apparels Mohammadi under Tarabo municipality in Narayanganj ransacked 10 to 12 vehicles after they found the garment units were shut down.
At least 30 persons were injured in the clashes between the workers and police.
The factories were laid off as the workers attacked the factories and put barricade on highways without talking with the authorities about their demands, factory officials said.
When the workers of the two factories tried to put a blockade on Dhaka-Sylhet highway, police chased and dispersed them.
Additional police were deployed at Kanchpur and Rupganj industrial area.
Rupganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Forkan Shikder said some workers tried to create unrest in the morning [on Thursday] and the situation in the industrial area was brought under control.
Earlier on Tuesday, workers of Opex Garment Ltd, a sister concern of Sinha Group, blocked Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Sylhet highways for five hours for the same demand.
The labour unrest affected production in 22 readymade garment factories on Wednesday.
The garment industry has been facing difficulties -- power and gas crises, price hike of yarn, poor infrastructure, and low price offers from international buyers amid increased production cost.
Production halted in the factories in Mirpur and Rupganj areas as workers put barricades on highways on the second consecutive day of their agitation for increased minimum monthly wage from Tk 1,662 to Tk 5,000.
At least 30 workers were injured during chase and counter-chase between the demonstrators and police in Mirpur.
The managements of 20 factories situated in Mirpur suspended production when 6,000 workers of Opex Garment put up barricades at Mirpur 13 and 14.