Arrears, bonuses: TNZ group agrees to Tk 3cr payout

The workers of TNZ Group have decided to suspend their demonstration for a week upon the assurance of receiving Tk 3 crore ahead of Eid.

TNZ management said factory machinery would be sold to arrange the fund, and it would be disbursed among some 3,500 workers who are owed around Tk 16 crore in arrears.

In response, the union leaders have agreed to temporarily halt their programmes, provided the amount was disbursed by last night.

"However, we will be staying at the Sromo Bhabon until the agreed amount is disbursed," said Joly Talukder, vice president of the Garment Workers' Trade Union Centre.

She also announced that the workers would resume their protest with a rally in front of the TNZ group factories on April 7 and a demonstration in front of the Sromo Bhabon the next day.

Earlier in the day, Labour Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman in the afternoon held a meeting at the capital's Sromo Bhaban with union leaders, TNZ management, and the BGMEA representatives to discuss the payment of due wages and bonuses ahead of Eid.

Following the meeting, Secretary Shafiquzzaman initially announced that the employer would provide Tk 2 crore by selling factory machinery. However, workers rejected the offer and surrounded the secretary.

After being surrounded by protesting workers for nearly 1 hour, Shafiquzzaman was escorted by law enforcement to the ground floor of the Sromo Bhaban.

As he attempted to enter his vehicle, workers surrounded him again, demanding full payment. It was then that Shafiquzzaman raised the amount to Tk 3 crore, but the workers still rejected the offer.

In response, Shafiquzzaman said that all issues, including the outstanding wages and bonuses, would be fully resolved before May Day.

He added that until the situation was resolved, TNZ Group Director Shaheen and two other officials would remain in the custody of the Labour Department

"As we plan for a permanent solution, if needed, we will shut down the factory after paying all the dues," he said. "We will make the necessary arrangements to bring a smile to the workers' faces."

Shahidul Islam, a representative of workers at Apparel Plus Eco, said, "Even with Tk 3 crore, it won't be enough. Many workers have not been paid for three months and are living in dire conditions. If we don't receive at least one month's salary and one bonus before Eid, we will continue our protests."

For nearly a week, TNZ Group workers have been demonstrating in front of the Sromo Bhaban, demanding three months' unpaid wages and Eid bonuses. Yesterday, workers staged a hunger procession.

On Friday, they held a press conference in front of the Sromo Bhaban, saying they were owed Tk 17.78 crore in unpaid wages, bonuses, and allowances.

Only Tk 1.05 crore had been paid on Thursday, they added.

Meanwhile, the industrial police, in a statement, said almost all the factories, including the garment factories, paid half of the salary of March and Eid bonuses.

Only one or two factories could not pay and the labour ministry and BGMEA have been trying to solve the payment to the workers, the statement added.