Workers in Ashulia Industrial Area are demanding the reopening of closed garment factories, the dismissal of lawsuits against them, and an increase in the minimum wage to Tk 22,000, which has sparked new protests.
Today, protests that included road blockades at multiple locations resulted in the forced closure of at least 22 factories.
Workers blocked the Bypail-Abdullahpur road near the Zirabo area to start their protest in the morning.
Protesters became more aggressive as they drew closer to the open factories, yelling at the workers and hurling bricks at the structures.
As a result, eight or ten factories’ authorities were compelled to announce the day’s business closure.
Requesting to remain anonymous, a Lusaka Group employee stated that the Ashulia Police Station received a case on September 9 from the factory management against 27 workers and a number of unidentified people.
“When we protested for the withdrawal, the owner promised to withdraw the case and provide us with a copy of the withdrawal.” But we never got it,” the employee remarked.
When we got to the factory this morning, we discovered that the owner had declared it closed in accordance with the Labour Act’s “no work, no pay” clause. Thus, we assembled labourers from adjacent factories and staged a protest in the streets.
The Industrial Police claim that after the Lusaka Group workers started their protest, Mondal Knitwear Ltd. workers from the Zirabo region also joined in, obstructing the road.
Workers at Mondal Group have been demonstrating for a few days, calling for a pay increase to Tk 22,000 instead of Tk 12,500. Other factory workers quickly joined the protest.
Speaking anonymously to The Daily Star, a Mondal Knitwear protesting employee stated: “We’ve been demonstrating for several demands, including a salary increase.” When we arrived at the factory today, we discovered that the owner had closed it under the “no work, no pay” policy.”
Additionally, he claimed that since last Thursday, local goons have been abusing the employees on the owners’ behalf.
The majority of the factories in the industrial area were running smoothly and regularly this morning, according to Md. Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police-1, who spoke with The Daily Star.
About 22 factories shut down in the morning, and some others closed after lunch.
“Now, things are back to normal. The workers have left for their homes, and the roads are clear,” he continued.
