RMG workers still unhappy, declare fresh agitation plan
Staff Correspondent
Rejecting the minimum wages in the readymade garment (RMG) sector that was declared on Thursday, different workers' bodies yesterday declared countrywide strike on separate dates and vowed to 'force' the government to reconsider the pay structure.Garment Sramik Sangram Parishad, an alliance of 11 garment workers associations, declared countrywide strike on October 10, National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) and United Federation of Garment Workers (UFGW) on October 15 and National Protection Alliance for Garment Workers and Industries (NPAGWI) on October 16. NGWF will submit a memorandum to the labour ministry on October 8 demanding Eid bonus. Sramic Karmachari Oikya Parishad in a statement yesterday also rejected the latest declaration of minimum wages for the garment workers. At a press briefing following a rally at Muktangon, Garment Sramik Sangram Parishad leaders demanded fixing the minimum wage at Tk 3,000. Their five-point demand includes immediate implementation of the tripartite agreement among the workers, owners and the government, stopping discharge of the workers from the garment factories across the country and paying arrears and Eid bonus before the Eid-ul-Fitr. Terming the recently passed Bangladesh Labour Law 2006 'undemocratic', they said it would not serve the workers' interest. They demanded cancellation of the law. At a rally at Muktangon yesterday morning, NGWF demanded implementation of the trilateral, bilateral and factory-level contracts. UFGW also held a rally at the same place in the afternoon and said the declaration of minimum wages is a 'betrayal' with the workers' movement for realisation of longstanding demands. They urged the workers to observe a 'hartal-like' strike by obstructing roads, railways and waterways on October 15. NPAGWI at an emergency meeting yesterday rejected the minimum pay structure and urged cancellation of the Labour Bill. They also demanded payment of Eid bonus before the festival. Bangladesh Garment Sramik Trade Union Kendra in press release said the latest declaration of the minimum wages would only create unrest in the industry and the government would have to take the responsibility for it. Urging immediate payment of Eid bonus, NGWF leaders said otherwise they would observe October 13 as Eid Bonus Demand Day. It is not fair that the factory owners do not pay the bonus in the name of paying as per piece-rate whereas all government and non-government employees get it regularly, said a speaker at the rally.
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