Alliance Knit Composite Limited, an export-oriented garment factory at Jirabo, has laid off 565 workers during an official holiday via SMS.
The factory cited business slump, financial crisis, and work shortage as reasons of this massive lay off.
The Human Resource and Administration Department of the factory, located in the Pukurpar area of Jirabo, Ashulia, issued a notice on Saturday morning declaring the termination of workers across various departments.
The retrenchment comes into effect from Saturday.
According to the notice containing the list of affected workers, the factory faces severe business depression due to global and domestic factors. Production was severely disrupted due to a lack of banking support and sufficient work orders.
The management stated that to ensure business survival and continuity, it was forced to reduce excess workforce under Section 20 of the Bangladesh Labor Act, 2006.
The notice assured that all legal dues and full compensation will be paid within the timeline stipulated under Section 20(2) of the Labor Act.
Furthermore, under Section 21 of the Labor Act, the laid-off workers will receive priority if the factory expands operations or hires new workers within the next year.
Jiarul Haq, an operator in the sewing department, said he received the lay-off notice on his mobile phone on Thursday night while visiting his village in Dinajpur during a three-day holiday. He expressed anxiety after losing his job without knowing the exact reason for his termination.
Explaining the decision, the factory's Managing Director Zaem Ahmed said, "We have no orders or work. That is why workers were laid off. When work arrives, we will recruit workers again."
Meanwhile, Rafiqul Islam Sujon, President of Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, termed the business slump an excuse. He said sacking so many workers simultaneously during a holiday is inhumane, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the notice and reinstatement of the 565 workers with unpaid dues.
Confirming the lay-offs, Industrial Police-1 Director Mominul Islam said the factory retrenched some workers due to a business slump caused by gas shortages and lack of sufficient work orders.
PT/ra
