Workers of eight factories of TNZ Group in Gazipur staged a sit-in at Kakrail Mosque intersection in Dhaka on Tuesday, May 20, demanding payment of arrears and Eid bonus.

Earlier, the workers gathered in front of the Department of Labour in the capital.

When they started march towards Jamuna, Chief Adviser’s official residence, police obstructed them at Kakrail Mosque intersection and they staged sit-in there.

The protesters said the TNZ Group owes over Tk 50 crore in unpaid wages, bonuses, and allowances to several thousand workers and employees in eight factories.

They also said that ahead of the last Eid-ul-Fitr they held a week-long sit-in in front of the Department of Labour.

At the time, with the mediation of the Labour Ministry discussions were held between the owners and workers of TNZ Apparels Ltd, Apparel Plus Eco, Basic Clothing Ltd, Basic Knitwear Ltd, and Apparel Art Ltd to pay arrears before Eid.

But the owners failed to keep their promises, they alleged.

“I haven’t received my salary for three months. We haven’t been paid the Eid bonus either,” said Mina, a worker of Apparel Garments.

“My monthly salary is Tk 12,500. I’ve been working for 12 years. The owner has multiple factories, and they’re being shut down one after another,” she said.

Another protester, Nasima, said, “I have five children and I run the family alone. The owner has disappeared without paying us. We’ve taken to the streets because we can’t run our family without our salaries and bonuses.”

Shafi Mia, another worker, “We previously protested in front of the Department of Labour. Today we’re here. Five of our representatives are inside the building. If we get good news, we’ll leave. Otherwise, we’ll continue our protest until our demands are met.”

Source: UNB