Garment factory owners have warned of closing factories from Sunday under Section 13(1) of the Labour Act, if workers fail to return to work amid ongoing unrest over wage demands.
 
Under the provision, workers are not entitled to wages during such closures, effectively enforcing the principle of “no work, no pay”.
 
The warning came from Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), at a press conference at the association’s Uttara office in Dhaka on Saturday.
 
The press conference was jointly organised by the BGMEA and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
Earlier in the day, more than 1,000 garment factory owners attended a joint meeting of the two trade bodies.
 
Mahmud Hasan Khan said 55 factories in Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur had already been shut indefinitely under Section 13(1) of the Labour Act.
 
Production at another 92 factories had remained suspended due to workers’ protests.
 
He said factories unable to resume production from Sunday could also be closed under the same provision at the owners’ discretion.
 
The BGMEA president said the owners’ representatives would place their proposals before the minimum wage board on Monday. However, a decision on whether they would participate in the discussions amid continued unrest would be taken after consultations.
 
Meanwhile, a coalition of five labour organisations urged workers to remain patient and exercise restraint at a joint press conference on Friday.
 
Labour leaders said the wage board is working to determine a fair minimum wage and urged workers not to engage in activities that could disrupt the process. They also called on workers to avoid provocation and return to work to allow the board’s discussions to continue.
 
Addressing factory owners, the labour leaders said protests were still taking place in a few areas and urged them to keep communication channels open to resolve the disputes through dialogue.
 
Garment workers have been protesting since last month, demanding higher wages.
 
The government formed the minimum wage board on 1 November. At its second meeting last Monday, the workers’ representative proposed a minimum monthly wage of Tk32,000.
The board is scheduled to hold its third meeting on Monday.
 
The situation in the industrial areas has improved to some extent since the wage board began its discussions, although normalcy has yet to return completely.