Workers protest in Gazipur over unpaid wages

Workers of MK Footwear PLC staged a protest this morning in front of their factory in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur demanding unpaid wages for April.

The demonstration began at 8:00am, with hundreds of workers gathering outside the factory premises at Chakpara village.

Speaking to The Daily Star at 11:30am, Md Abdul Latif, officer-in-charge of the Gazipur Industrial Police's Sreepur sub-zone, said, "Our intelligence personnel are present on-site and are currently negotiating with the factory owner. The workers are owed salaries for the month of April and have taken positions in front of the factory."

He added that the electricity supply to the factory had been disconnected due to unpaid utility bills. Although the factory was scheduled to resume operations this morning following a 10-day holiday, the management unexpectedly extended the closure until next Monday, further aggravating the workers.

When workers attempted to enter the premises, security personnel stopped them, prompting them to initiate the protest, the OC said.

According to the workers, salaries for April were due between May 7 and 9, but no payment was made. They have demanded that arrears be cleared before the factory management makes any further decisions regarding operations.

Md Sumon Mia, manager of the factory's human resources department, said, "Our senior officials will speak to the owner regarding this issue. We are not in a position to make decisions ourselves--we are workers too, just like the rest."