Protests over unpaid wages, Bangladesh – 2025

On November 10, 2025, workers from four garment factories in the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) protested on the Nabinagar-Chandra road in Ashulia, demanding unpaid wages and the reopening of their temporarily closed factories. The factories - South China Bleaching and Dyeing Factory Limited, Goldtex Limited (BD20190934ND45D), Goldtex Garments (BD2019083SZBDR5) and Actor Sporting Limited (BD2020052XZPPKC) - were shut down on October 22, leaving workers with up to three months of unpaid salaries. Despite management’s promises, the arrears remain unsettled.

Hundreds of workers gathered at the DEPZ main gate and blocked the road after police tried to disperse them with water cannons and tear gas. Authorities reported that workers threw bricks and stones during the confrontation.

Officials confirmed that three factories owe two and a half months’ wages, while Actor Sporting Limited owes two months. 

All factories are listed in the Open Supply Hub.

Basic Information

Case ID: 2025.019

Identification Number from Open Supply Hub (OS-ID): BD2022292VG17P2

Open Supply Hub Link

Affected Country: Bangladesh

Date of occurrence: 2025-11-12

Social Sector Risks concerned:

• Wages (Conventions Nr. 26 & 102 & 131 & 177 & 181; FAO)

Supplier Details

South China Bleaching and Dyeing Factory Limited
GANAKBARI, PLOT# 93-96, 109-113, OLD DEPZ
ASHULIA
Dhaka 1349
Bangladesh

Supplier Website: https://southchinabd.weebly.com/about.html

Production Site

Total number of workers/employees:
max. 500

No gender specific information available.

Workers movement

No information about unions available.

No information about workers commitee available.

Business Relations

Known Buyer/Brands:

• H&M Hennes & Mauritz B.V. & Co. KG
• JOG Group
• Nirapon Inc.
• VF Corporation.

Source of information buyers: https://opensupplyhub.org/facilities/BD2022292VG17P2

It is not known, whether at least one of the buyers has the duty to report according to the Supply Chain Act / CSDDD.

Follow up

Sources

Name of reporting organisation: The Business Standard

Source of information about the case:

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/workers-4-garment-factories-block-ashulia-road-over-unpaid-wages-factory-closures-1282016?amp

Contributor: SÜDWIND