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Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has urged garment workers to return to their homes and workplaces, saying the ongoing unrest is not a labour movement.
“There is no labour-related movement currently underway. The workers’ demand was to form a wage board, and that has already been done. Those now taking part in protests have different motives,” he said.
The minister made the remarks at a press briefing on Monday after a meeting with garment workers’ leaders.
He alleged that some protesters had identified themselves as representatives of what he described as a fascist group and said their identities had been established.
Salahuddin said those deliberately creating unrest on roads and highways could not be considered friends of the workers, adding that they might have other interests.
He said the wage board was now dealing with workers’ pay-related demands, with representatives of both workers and factory owners on the board.
“We will all work together to maintain peace and order, keep the economy running and ensure factories remain operational,” he added.
Responding to a question, the minister said the workers’ leaders had not called the strike. Their demand was for the formation of a wage board, which the government had already established and whose activities had begun.
Meanwhile, Bab ul Akhtar, one of the workers’ leaders who attended the meeting, said workers wanted to continue working but outsiders were disrupting factories by throwing stones and forcing them to close.
He said those involved in the unrest included some workers who had not received their wages, evicted street vendors and political activists.
He also claimed that some of those arrested were not involved in the protests.
Bab ul Akhtar said labour organisations would jointly finalise a proposal for workers’ demands and present it at the first meeting of the wage board.
