Five labour alliances have urged garment workers not to disrupt the wage board's ongoing proceedings and to return to work to allow dialogue. They also cautioned factory owners that closing factories under Section 13(1) of the labour law would amount to provocation.
14 November 2026, 3:02 PM
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2 min read
Amid ongoing unrest in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector, five alliances of labour organisations have called upon workers to handle the situation with patience, restraint, and responsibility. At a joint press conference held on Friday afternoon at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium in Segunbagicha, labour leaders urged workers not to engage in any activity, provocation, or sabotage that could hinder the wage board's ongoing efforts to determine fair wages.
The leaders appealed to workers to join their duties and give the wage board time for discussion. Addressing factory owners, they stated that unrest is currently limited to one or two locations, and therefore, the path to resolving issues through dialogue must remain open.
Section 13(1) of Labour Law
Labour leaders expressed concern that closing RMG factories under Section 13(1) of the labour law, which pertains to "no work, no pay," would be tantamount to provoking labour unrest. They advised owners against taking any such steps that could further complicate the situation.
BGMEA and BKMEA Emergency Meeting
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) are scheduled to hold an emergency joint consultation meeting today, Saturday. The meeting has been called with factory owners to discuss the situation at factories where workers have not reported to work and to decide on necessary actions. Stakeholders believe that dialogue between owners and labour leaders is now of paramount importance to restore stability in the industry.
