The livelihoods of around 1,000 disabled workers at Keya Group are facing uncertainty following the second phase of mass layoffs at the industrial conglomerate. The group has laid off an additional 739 workers and employees across four of its units in the Jarun area of Konabari, Gazipur, bringing the total number of job losses in two phases to 1,352.
The management cited banking complications, an inability to open Letters of Credit (LCs), unpaid gas bills and rising production costs for the decision. A notice listing the names of the laid-off workers was posted at the main gates of the factories around 10:30pm on Monday.
The affected units are Keya Knit Composite, Keya Spinning, Keya Cotton and Keya Yarn Mills Limited.
Keya Group has a long-standing history of employing disabled workers. For years, the group’s knit composite factory has integrated hundreds of hearing and speech-impaired workers into its regular production lines, with many working there for over a decade.
Keya Group Composite Section Admin Officer Sabrina Islam told TIMES that nearly 1,000 disabled workers are currently employed at the institution. She said that the authorities are deeply concerned about their employment given the current situation.
Sabrina Islam also said that due to complications in settling accounts with banks, they cannot open LCs, which is disrupting raw material imports, production and exports. “If we cannot export, repaying the bank dues also becomes difficult. Under these circumstances, we were forced to make the decision to lay off workers,” she said.
The management’s notice said that gas connections have been disconnected due to unpaid bills, disrupting production. Some posts across various departments have been abolished to reduce production and administrative costs, and the layoffs were executed under Section 20 of Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.
This follows the first phase in September, when 613 workers were laid off. The factories had been under repeated layoffs since 6 June, with the period extended five times before the management opted for mass retrenchment.
Keya Group HR Manager Sabina Yasmin assured that legal dues would be paid to the laid-off workers within 30 working days as per labour law. She added that if future recruitment is needed, the laid-off skilled workers will be given priority.
Meanwhile, workers gathered at the factory gates on Tuesday morning, many breaking down after finding their names on the list. Shelina Begum, who worked at the factory for 19 years, said in tears, “After working for so many years, I am leaving empty-handed.”
Jannat Ara, who worked there for 17 years, said she is now worried about her family. Another worker, Alam Hossain, said finding a new job in the current market is difficult and he may have to drive an auto-rickshaw to support his family if he cannot find work soon.
National Garments Workers Federation Bangladesh Central Committee Organising Secretary Md Ashraful Zaman said the financial and production crisis of the industry ultimately affects the workers’ lives. “The biggest shock is being borne by those who lost their jobs,” he said.
To maintain law and order, police have been deployed in the factory area. Gazipur Industrial Police-2 Superintendent Mohammad Amzad Hossain said adequate industrial police alongside Gazipur Metropolitan Police were deployed.
Industrial Police Inspector Md Rajib Hossain confirmed the incident but said he did not have detailed information on the reasons for the layoffs.
Gazipur Industrial Police Officer Md Khalilur Rahman said they are monitoring the situation to prevent any untoward incidents, adding that they hope the situation will normalise if workers receive their dues within the promised 30 days.
