"The minimum basic wage was fixed at Tk 930 on January, 1994. But the price of daily essentials has increased much during this ten years. As a result, the garment workers find it difficult to go on with this small amount. Besides, the BGMEA did not implement any agreements with the BGWUG and tried to impose a separate code of conduct for garment industries which is against the labour law", said Abul Hossain, a member of the permanent standing committee of the council, at a press conference in the city.

He said the garment industries will be at risk from 2005 due to quota-free world, but the government and the BGMEA authorities are yet to take any steps to face the situation."

The speakers called for inclusion of the BGWUG leaders at the ' National Coordination Council on Textile and Garments' formed on July 2004.

They also demanded relief for flood-affected garment workers and security for the women workers at their workplaces.

The speakers complained that whenever the council starts a movement peacefully to press home the genuine demands of the workers, the BGMEA labeled it as conspiracy and remained passive to meet the demands.

" If the authorities do not pay heed to our demands, we will move for a national convention this month. Strike might be called if necessary," said Mohammad Towhidur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Apparels Workers Federation and member of the BGWUC.

President of Bangladesh National Garments Workers Employees League Sirajul Islam and Joint Secretary of the National Garment Workers and Employees Federation Feroza Begum also spoke at the press conference.