Delays in salary payments continue to be a major problem, which has rekindled ongoing anger among ready-made garment (RMG) workers. Workers’ desperation about unpaid pay is shown by recent protests, especially a blockade of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway by thousands of T&Z Group workers that lasted for more than 53 hours.
Many workers are now disillusioned, as reports suggest that at least 19 garment companies are not paying salaries on time, despite factory owners previously agreeing to an 18-point demand list to put an end to earlier protests in September. The scenario is caused by a number of owners who are either incarcerated or experiencing insolvency, which makes it more difficult to distribute salaries on time, according to AHM Shafiquzzaman, secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
There is a growing sense of urgency and irritation among RMG employees as a result of the harsh financial realities they face, which are made worse by rising inflation. The National Garment Workers Federation president, Amirul Haque Amin, underlined the vulnerable position of employees who have been unpaid for months. He said, “They have become desperate,” after considering their situation.
Tension is heightened by the fact that workers feel abandoned despite repeated assurances of financial settlement, and union leaders and factory owners are losing their trust. Desperation and a perceived breakdown in responsibility and communication are the main causes of the current protests.
Significant interruptions have occurred in the industrial region as a result of ongoing protests, and officials are using a strong police presence to control the turmoil. Local economic activity has been further impacted by some factory owners’ decision to temporarily shut down their operations in response to damage during protests. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association’s (BGMEA) previous president, Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, reaffirmed the organization’s need for prompt payments and lamented that certain owners continue to disregard their obligations.
As the labour crisis worsens, the trust between employees and owners is eroding, forcing many people to deal with the hard realities of unpaid wages and unstable finances.
