Bangladesh: RMG workers block Dhaka-Mymensingh highway over unpaid wages

By  News On Air   Nov 09, 2024

In Bangladesh, vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur district has been suspended since this morning as Ready-Made Garment (RMG) workers of some factories blocked the highway demanding three months of unpaid wages.

The police officer in charge of the concerned area told the media that the workers of different garment factories staged demonstrations in the last several days for the payment of their wages for three months. As their salaries remained unpaid, workers of some apparel factories again blocked the highway in the morning, causing immense suffering to the commuters.

The blockade caused heavy traffic congestion several kilometres long in both the Mymensingh and Tangail directions, as well as towards Dhaka.

Local residents and regular highway users expressed frustration over the blockade, saying that frequent roadblocks due to such protests cause significant disruption in the movements of daily commuters, and shipment of goods and services across the area.

However, the RMG sector workers of Bangladesh are facing many issues in recent times. Their demands include equal opportunities for men and women, increased wages, improved benefits, and lighter workloads. In addition, delays in wage payments, alleged blacklisting of dismissed workers, and contentious issues surrounding unionisation have fuelled anger and dissatisfaction.