The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Savar

Universe Knit Garments factory was closed sine die here on Monday amid labor unrest, in a chain of such demonstrations across the export-oriented apparel industry in recent years.

Police said the garment workers had observed various agitation programmes, including work abstention and staging demonstrations, to realize various demands, including pay hike, since last Thursday.

On Sunday night, the authorities met with local administration and workers' representatives to review the demands, but the meet finished without any fruitful decisions.

Failing to meet the demands of the workers, the management hung a notice at the main gate declaring indefinite closure of the garment factory at 8am Monday.

The notice also said the workers would be removed from their job on Thursday after paying off their salary and allowances as per the Labour Act.

"Hearing about the notice, some workers of the factory tried to gather there but left the place as police asked them to leave," sources said in a firsthand account of the incident.

A huge contingent of police was deployed in and around the factory to avert any untoward situation.

Dismissing the demands of the workers as "illogical", General Manager of Human Resource Department Major (retd) Habibur Rahman said the authorities had to shut down the factory as it was "not possible to realize all of their demands".