Bangladesh News

Different workers organisations in readymade garment (RMG) sector yesterday gave a 72-hour ultimatum to the government and the factory owners for fixing wages of the workers.

They warned of a tougher movement if their demands are not met within 72 hours and said the recently passed labour laws would create anarchy in the country.

“The government and the owners did not implement the tripartite accord regarding minimum wage and other issues of the RMG workers. This might cause deterioration in the overall situation for which the government and the owners will be fully responsible,” President of Bangladesh National Garments Workers Employees League Sirajul Islam Rony said at a rally at Muktangon in the capital yesterday.

Criticising the owners for not implementing the agreement timely, leaders of Bangladesh Garments Workers Unity Council said workers are struggling to survive as the prices of essentials have risen sharply in the month of Ramadan.

They said a greater movement would be launched if the accord is not implemented within 72 hours. Repression on the workers has been intensified, they alleged.

Leaders of Bangladesh Jatiya Sramik Jote said the government has given priority to the interests of owners in the recently passed labour laws.

Making two-hour overtime work compulsory, banning strike in the first three years of new factories and sacking workers at will by owners are some of the issues that serve the interests of the owners, said Hasanul Huq Inu, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal.

Biplobi Garments Sramik Sanghati urged the owners to fix minimum wage at Tk 3,000 for the garment workers.