WUOrevolt
5th June 2006, 07:47
Fresh unrest erupts in Bangladesh garments industry
Dhaka, June 01: Thousands of Bangladesh textile workers staged walkouts today as fresh unrest over low wages threatened to disrupt the garment industry, officials said.
Last week tens of thousands of employees demanding better wages rioted in Dhaka and adjoining industrial zones, torching at least 16 factories and ransacking another 300.
At least two workers were killed and scores injured after security officers shot at the rioting workers.
Police were called in today to the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) at Ashulia, 40 kilometres north of Dhaka, as workers at least 10 factories held fresh demonstrations, general manager of the zone Kamal Akhter told media persons.
Of the factories affected work had now resumed at around five after owners agreed to workers' demands for higher wages, one day off per week and other benefits, Akhter said.
Several people were also injured when workers manhandled some managers, he added without giving details.
Trouble also flared at five other factories yesterday after hundreds of workers walked off the job, DEPZ security officer Rezau Karim said.
"One of the factories was ransacked by the workers," he added.
There are over 60 foreign owned industries in the DEPZ, one of Bangladesh's seven Special Economic Zones where the foreign investors enjoy special tax and fiscal advanatges.
Bureau Report
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=299439&sid=SAS
Dhaka, June 01: Thousands of Bangladesh textile workers staged walkouts today as fresh unrest over low wages threatened to disrupt the garment industry, officials said.
Last week tens of thousands of employees demanding better wages rioted in Dhaka and adjoining industrial zones, torching at least 16 factories and ransacking another 300.
At least two workers were killed and scores injured after security officers shot at the rioting workers.
Police were called in today to the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) at Ashulia, 40 kilometres north of Dhaka, as workers at least 10 factories held fresh demonstrations, general manager of the zone Kamal Akhter told media persons.
Of the factories affected work had now resumed at around five after owners agreed to workers' demands for higher wages, one day off per week and other benefits, Akhter said.
Several people were also injured when workers manhandled some managers, he added without giving details.
Trouble also flared at five other factories yesterday after hundreds of workers walked off the job, DEPZ security officer Rezau Karim said.
"One of the factories was ransacked by the workers," he added.
There are over 60 foreign owned industries in the DEPZ, one of Bangladesh's seven Special Economic Zones where the foreign investors enjoy special tax and fiscal advanatges.
Bureau Report
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=299439&sid=SAS