Garment Workers In Gazipur Block Highway Demanding Overdue Wages

Workers from five factories of TNZ Group in the Basan area of Gazipur have gone on strike demanding their overdue wages. They have blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway as part of the protest.

The factories involved are: TNZ Apparels Limited, Basic Clothing Limited, Apparels Plus Eco, Basic Knitwear Limited, and Apparels Art Limited.

The workers began their blockade at 8 AM today (Saturday, November 9). According to Bayezid Mia, the Industrial Police Inspector of Gazipur, around 1,200 workers from TNZ Group are participating in the protest on the highway.

According to police, the workers were supposed to receive their salaries by October 23, but the factory management failed to make the payment. Subsequently, on October 24, a meeting was held with the army, factory owners, and workers’ representatives, during which it was agreed that the wages for September would be paid by November 3, and the October wages would be paid by November 20.

However, on Thursday, TNZ Group issued a new notice stating that the September wages would now be paid by November 7, and the October wages would be paid by November 28.

In another notice today, the group’s chairman expressed sincere apologies, explaining that despite the previous commitment made on November 7, they were unable to pay the September wages due to unavoidable circumstances. He reassured workers that both the September and October wages would be paid as soon as possible.