As the ongoing worker unrest continues to spread to new areas and intensify, the BGMEA has issued a warning that entrepreneurs may temporarily halt production for an indefinite period in accordance with the “No work, no pay” provision of the labour law.
“If the situation persists for a few more days, owners will be forced to close down their production units,” cautioned Faruque Hassan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), on Tuesday.
“If a factory owner observes workers unwilling to continue their jobs, engaged in unrest, or if the factory is impacted by an external attack, the owner may follow Section 13/1 of the Labour Act, which includes a ‘No work, no pay’ provision,” he said at a press briefing at his Uttara office in Dhaka.
He further said more and more factories are closing almost every day due to the ongoing unrest.
The BGMEA president mentioned that so far, two garment workers have died during the unrest.
Faruque Hassan said the BGMEA will implement the new wage structure for their workers in December of this year, in line with the recommendation of the government-formed wage board.
“The board has time until 30 November to announce the new minimum wage, and we are preparing to implement the new wage structure,” he added.
The Minimum Wage Board for the RMG sector, which has already received proposals from the representatives of workers and entrepreneurs, is scheduled to hold its fifth meeting today to determine a new wage structure for workers.
