Bangladesh labour rights groups are dissatisfied with readymade garment (RMG) factory owners for announcing layoffs at their units during public holidays amid the COVID-19 outbreak, putting workers into uncertainty. They have urged the government to look into the ‘unethical’ issue and called on factory owners not to adopt such a strategy.
On March 23, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association sent a letter to its member companies saying factory managements could opt for closure as per Sections 12 and 16 of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.Bangladesh labour rights groups are dissatisfied with readymade garment (RMG) factory owners for announcing layoffs at their units during public holidays amid the COVID-19 outbreak, putting workers into uncertainty. They have urged the government to look into the 'unethical' issue and called on factory owners not to adopt such a strategy.#
Salahuddin Shapon, former secretary general of IndustriAll Bangladesh Council, said it was completely illogical and unlawful to announce layoff at RMG factories during the general holidays. He said the objective of the government announcement of the incentive package of Tk 5,000 crore for workers’ wage payment would not be fulfilled with the factories deciding to lay off workers.
Shapon urged the government not to accept factory lay-offs during the general holiday, according to Bangla media reports.
Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, former vice president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association said that all of their member factories except 14 have paid workers wages for March.
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