Huge Public Meeting of Garment Workers
Bangladesh Garment Worker to go on nationwide strike if authorities fail to fix Taka 5000 as minimum wage and ensure pro-rata increase by 27th July
Garment Workers Trade
Union Center
GTUC
Leaders of Garment Workers Trade Union Center declared that they will go for united nationwide strike if authorities fail to fix taka 5,000/= about US $ 71 (per month) as minimum wage and ensure pro-rata increase in other wage levels by July 27. The Government has formed a Minimum Wage Board for fixation of wages of garment workers within 27th July.
This was declared at a huge workers meeting at, Muktangon the center of capital city Dhaka , in the afternoon of May 21. Presided over by Idris Ali, President Garment Workers Trade Union Kendra (center) the meeting also demanded realization of 10 point demands including increase in wages, benefits according to law, supply of essential commodities at fare price and rationing system, housing, education, medical treatment, work place safety, real trade union rights,adequate supply of gas and electricity for uninterrupted production.
Addressing the massive meeting Manzurul Ahsan Khan, a veteran Trade Union Leader, adviser to GTUC and President Communist Party of Bangladesh said that about 3 million garment workers 80 percent being young women are the lowest paid workers in Bangladesh . Even in comparison to workers in Vietnam , China and India garment worker salary in Bangladesh is very low. Criticising the present government he said that on the plea of price rise the government has doubled the salaries of Ministers, MP’s and high officials and totally ignored the demands of garment workers who are the most affected due to price rise. The speakers at the meeting terming government shameless demanded that enhanced salary should be postponed until the garment workers are paid increased wages.
Manzur further said that unless employers and govt. ensure unfettered trade union rights and encourage culture of negotiations, bipartite and tripartite settlement, sporadic unrest and wild cat strike can’t be stopped. Suppression of workers movement by dismissal, police repressions and assault of workers by hired hoodlums will further aggravate the situation.
Referring to national and international conspiracy against garment industry Manzur alleged that the govt and employers are trying to victimize genuine trade union activists. Some dubious organizations with huge foreign funding involved in doubtful activities are being spared by authorities due to intervention of foreign powers. He said during last Army backed Caretaker Govt. One leader of such an organization was arrested on definite charges but he had to be released immediately due to pressure from US State Department. Manzur also mentioned that the Prime Minister herself alleged that the Garment Owner was responsible for the tragic incident in Nippon Garment. But later cases were lodged not against the owner but against the leaders of GTUC and some other TU leaders.
The CPB President Manzur alleged the govt. gives tip service to garment industry but has done very little for this rising sector which account for the biggest share in industrial export. The new entrepreneurs of garment industry face obstacles at different steps of import, export and transportation. They also face extortionists and mafia bosses some times backed by ruling party leaders. Production suffers badly due to lack of electricity and gas. He called upon the workers and owners of industries to build up joint struggle against all obstacles on the way to higher production.
Shahidullah Choudhury President BTUK said that all national trade unions and federations have demanded Tk5000/00 as national minimum for all workers.National federation will build united movement for realisation of national minimum.He said if you can build up united movement I am sure you will win. BTUK will be behind you.
The meeting attended by thousands of workers was also addressed Adviser GTUC Advocate Mantu Ghose, General Secretary K.M Ruhul Amin, Joly Talukder, Sadequr Rahman Shamim, Ziaul Kabir Khokan, Tuhin Choudhury, Iqbal Hossain, Aklima Akhter Doly, K. M. Mintu, Nasima Akhter, Sirajul Islam, Ilias Ahmed Nipu, Lutfur RahmanAkash and other Garment workers.
The leaders called upon all the Trade Unions of garment workers with different orientation to unite in the struggle for realizing the common demands. The leaders also said that GTUC slogan in “save the workers, save the industry and save the country. They called upon garment workers to unite and resist hoodlums and mafia bosses who seize every opportunity to create chaos and anarchy and resort to arson looting and plunder in d industrial areas to settle their own scores with different garment owners.
Sd/
Joly Talukder
Office Secretary
GTUC
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