The reopening of factories from Sunday has given rise to confusion and uncertainty among readymade garment workers over their job security and payment of April wages.
Hundreds of workers had to endure immense sufferings at different places of the country on their way to Dhaka. They were stopped by the law-enforcing agencies at different points because of the countrywide shutdown amid Covid-19 outbreak, labour leaders said.
They also alleged that workers were coming back as many factory authorities have asked them to rejoin, though trade groups asked plants not to have rural employees return to Dhaka.
Some factories have issued office notices announcing opening dates beginning from Sunday and onwards, they said.
A total of 502 factories reopened on Sunday in industrial belts with 25 in Dhaka, 129 at Ashulia and Savar, 238 at Gazipur, 18 at Narayanganj and 92 in Chattogram, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
Talking to the FE, Nazma Akhter, president of the Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, said a significant number of factories have issued notices announcing factory operation dates and workers have been asked to join via mobile phone messages.
Factory authorities are reopening their respective units on their own, thus exposing workers to health risk, she said, raising the question as to who would monitor whether the required safety measures are being implemented or not.
Babul Akhter, general-secretary of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, alleged that workers are in uncertainty over their job and wage payment as they believe that they would not get April wages and festival allowance if absent.
Moreover, there might be anarchy over payment of wages to workers who are working and who are not, he said, demanding risk allowance for workers engaged in production amid coronavirus pandemic.
He alleged that a section of members did not listen to the directive of the BGMEA as many remained open during the public holidays, though not all of them were engaged in producing personal protective equipment, or PPE.
Workers are confused over the factory operations and closure as many of whom were asked to join on Sunday while trade bodies called their members not to bring workers from outside Dhaka, said Taslima Akhter, president of the Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity.
When asked, BGMEA president Dr Rubana Huq said all workers will get April wages.
"None of our members will ask workers to come from outside Dhaka as they have been told that we will not cooperate with them if they don't listen to our guideline that is clear enough on the issue ," she said.
The BGMEA on Saturday in a letter to labour secretary informed about the gradual reopening of garment factories in industrial zones using a limited workforce.
According to the letter, factories located in Dhaka and Dhaka Metropolitan area will reopen on Sunday and Monday.
Factories at Ashulia, Savar and Dhamrai and Manikganj will reopen on April 28, 29 and 30 respectively and units in Rupganj, Narsingdi and Kanchpur on April 30.
The units in Gazipur and Mymensingh are scheduled to restart on May 02 and 03 respectively.
Knitting, dyeing and sampling segments of the knitwear sector in Narayanganj would open gradually from April 26 to 30; and cutting, sewing and finishing units will reopen on May 02, 03 and 04 respectively, it added.
BGMEA insiders said the factories that reopened on Sunday in different zones, except those of Dhaka, have informed both the trade bodies and the state-run Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments.
Industrial Police data revealed that a total of 1,427 factories out of 6,175 in its jurisdiction remained open on Sunday while the number was only 657 on April 25.
Out of 1,427, some 570 were non-RMG factories that remained open on Sunday.
About 3,372 textiles and RMG factories are under the police jurisdiction and some 769 remained open on Sunday, its data showed.
Out of open 769 textile and apparel units, some 473 reopened only on Sunday that included 332 BGMEA members, 95 BKMEA members and 46 BTMA registered mills in six industrial belts in Dhaka except the metropolitan area, Ashulia, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Mymensingh and Khulna.
Workers from 13 factories in Gazilpur, two in Narayanganj, five in Ashulia protested over different demands, including wage payment, festival allowance, lifting layoff and reopening date and retrenchment.
