Three representatives of TNZ Group owners have been taken under the custody where they will remain till April 8 when the government will meet all parties involved in the group’s three readymade garment units.
Labour and Employment Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman revealed this when he was speaking to the journalists on Saturday regarding the ongoing payment issues in the labour sector.
He said that they partially resolved the problems of TNZ factories on March 27 by paying Tk 1.05 crore to the workers.
‹The owner of the TNZ group moved to Saudi Arabia long ago with many outstanding issues. The government had provided Tk 16 crore to the group to resolute their issues,’ he added.
He said that the TNZ Group was instructed to solve the problems with these funds. It has come to light that they currently owe Tk 17.13 crore to about 3,000 workers.
Meanwhile, regarding the payment of Tk1.05 crore, Labour adviser M Shakhawat Hossain›s speech created further dissatisfaction among the workers as it was partially true.
On Saturday, labour secretary said that this cannot go like this, and they have decided on the TNZ Group.
‘As all banks, even the central banks, have been closed for the Eid holidays, we have nothing to do with proper banking channels,’ he added.
In this regard, the government decided to bring three representatives of the TNZ Group under police custody.
The three top officials of TNZ are Shariful Islam Shamin, Group Director; Ali Hossain, Executive Director; and Enamul Haque, Group CHO.
‘The company will pay Tk 3 crore to the workers for their Eid transport by selling machinery of the factories,’ he added, saying that they will sit again on April 8 with all parties to decide on paying outstanding dues.
‘Before May Day, we want to ensure a resolution to the TNZ issue,’ he added.
On Friday, the workers of three factories said they are owed a staggering Tk 17.78 crore in unpaid wages, Eid bonuses, and other allowances, but they were paid only Tk 1.05 crore on March 27.
However, after the meeting, TNZ Apparels cutting operator Shahidul Islam said the workers had rejected the decision and would continue their protests until all their dues were paid.
He also said they would continue demonstrating before Sromo Bhaban, even on Eid day.
A number of agitating workers blocked the car of the Labour Secretary for a time. However, they withdrew their blockade but continued the sit-on-protest as of writing the report.
Labour leader Joly Talukdar said that they demand at least one month’s wages and festival allowances before Eid. However, the labour secretary hasn’t decided how to solve the problems.
Iqbalur Rahman, former president of Revolutionary Chatra Moitry, said the group refused the government›s decisions and will continue protests.
According to the ministry, about 12 factory units under TNZ Group, Style Craft Group, Mahmud Group, Dird Group, Roar Fashion, Basic, and Ssain Apparels faced issues paying their wages due to not getting loans or because their owners were in hiding.
Regarding these problem-prone factories, the Labour Secretary said that on March 27, they resolved the issues of almost all factories, including Style Craft and Mahmud Group.
However, Salauddin Swapan, senior vice president of IndustriALL Bangladesh Council, told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that the solution of the crisis-prone factories are not permanent, it may again arise after Eid.
He also urged the government to take proper measures for the non-member factories as problems regarding payment persist there but no one to take actions.
Meanwhile, the Industrial Police said in a statement that almost all the factories under four major trade bodies had cleared wages and allowances.
Industrial Police also stated that some factories, including TNZ, Mahmud, or Style Craft, witnessed problems, and the ministry and trade bodies were trying to resolve them.
According to the Factory Monitoring of the BGMEA, 99.87 per cent or 2,098 of 2,106 factories cleared the festival allowances, 99.62 per cent or 2,099 factories February wages, and 98.67 per cent or 2,079 factories cleared the half or full wages of March.
