DEPZ factory shuts sine die over workers' demand for benefits

The management of an Indian owned garment factory in Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ), on the outskirts of the capital shut down the factory for an unidentified period yesterday following workers demonstration for service benefit.

The workers of Alfa Patterns (Bangladesh) Ltd saw the shutdown notice on the gate when they went to work in the morning.

Workers complained the factories outside of the EPZ are providing service benefits. "It is discrimination between the workers," said a female worker of the factory demanding anonymity.

Aman Ullah Changla, managing director of Alpha Patterns, said the demands for benefits are illegal and added workers are misguided by the conspirators.

Abdus Sobhan, general manager of DEPZ, said according to the law, the workers do not get service benefit.

Deputy Director of Ashulia Industrial police, Kawser Sikder, told The Daily Star the management sat several times with the workers but could not reach any understanding.

Additional police have been deployed in the DEPZ area to avoid any untoward incident, he said.