Workers block Ctg road for 6 hours over unpaid wages

Workers of Golden Son Ltd blocked a road in Chattogram's Karnaphuli upazila for six hours today, demanding payment of overdue wages and improved working conditions.

The demonstration began around 6:00am outside the electronics and toy manufacturing factory in Khoajnagar area.

Workers alleged the factory authorities had not paid their salaries for March and April, with some claiming they had gone even longer without wages.

The protest caused traffic congestion in the area, prompting police and law-enforcing agencies to intervene.

The workers eventually left the road and moved to the factory gate, where they continued their demonstration.

"We work the whole month, yet we can't feed our families, why?" said Mohammad Ismail, one of the demonstrators.

He also alleged that workers have not received any pay raise despite years of service.

"Whenever we ask for a raise, the owners threaten to fire us," he said.

"We never get our salaries on time. If we ask, we're told to wait or quit. But where will we go?" said another worker Nazrul Islam.

A store section worker, requesting anonymity, said the factory enforces five hours of mandatory overtime, yet timely wage payments remain elusive.

"Production continues, but we don't get paid," the worker said.

The workers' demands include immediate payment of all outstanding wages, timely monthly salary disbursement between the 1st and 10th, salary hikes, and payment of dues to terminated employees in line with labour laws.

Karnaphuli Police Station's Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Sharif told The Daily Star that the road was cleared after factory management agreed to meet the workers' demands.

"The situation is now calm," he said.

Attempts to reach Golden Son Ltd's HR Officer Mohammad Noman and CEO Aminul Islam over the phone were unsuccessful, as neither responded to calls.