Sweater factory workers demonstrate for salary

Over 300 workers of a sweater factory staged a demonstration in front of the BGMEA building at Karwan Bazar yesterday demanding immediate steps to pay their salaries for the last four months and Eid bonus.
The workers of Season Sweater Factory at Baipile in Ashulia staged their demonstration from 7:00pm to 9:30pm as its authorities closed the factory on September 6 without paying their salaries.
The workers also demanded reopening of the factory.
KM Mintu, a worker, said the factory authorities had not paid their salaries for the last four months. Moreover, the authorities closed the factory and set up a police camp so that the employees could not stage demonstrations for salaries.
"Ashulia police asked us two days ago not to carry out any protest and assured us of taking steps to pay their salary through negotiations with the authorities. But the police did not take any steps in this regard," he added.
When contacted, BGMEA (Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association) Director Badal Roy told The Daily Star, "Ziaul Amin, the owner of the factory, told us on Thursday that he already paid the salaries to his employees. But we came to know today that he did not tell the truth."
"We have been discussing the issue with other leaders," he said.