C T Online Desk: The Press Information Department has sent a message to electronic media claiming that “TNZ Group’s cars have been sold to pay workers’ salaries and allowances.”
The statement has been widely discussed on social media since Thursday afternoon, and if this were true, workers who had been protesting for days, demanding their wages, would have been able to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr joyfully.
However, by evening, this hope was dashed as workers reported that many had not received their full payments and some had received nothing at all.
Workers and employees of TNZ Group did not receive their outstanding salaries before Eid.
They had been protesting in front of Srom Bhaban for several days, demanding their due payments. On Wednesday, the government intervened, imposing a travel ban on factory owners and stating that assets could be sold if necessary to clear dues. Then, on Thursday, there was an announcement regarding payments.
However, workers claim that in many cases, only 70% of one month’s salary was paid, while some received nothing.
In response, they announced a press conference for Friday.
Workers of Apparel Plus Eco Ltd, owned by TNZ Group, said they had received 70% of one month’s salary, while the wages for two other months, Eid bonuses and food allowances remained unpaid.
Meanwhile, workers of TNZ Apparels Ltd said they had received no payment at all and were still owed two months’ wages, Eid bonuses and holiday pay.
Masud Mia, a worker at Apparel Plus Eco Ltd, whose salary is Tk20,000, said he was owed three months’ salary, Eid bonuses and holiday bills.
After worker protests, he received only Tk15,000 for January via bKash on Thursday, with no assurance for the remaining dues.
He added that many of his colleagues had received nothing, vowing to continue protesting until they were fully paid.
Similarly, Roksana Begum, an employee of Apparel Art Ltd, a sister concern of TNZ Group, said she had not received any salary since January. “I had hoped to get at least two months’ wages along with the Eid bonus, but none of us in my factory were paid. Yet, we have been protesting in front of Srom Bhaban for days.”
