Ref: Date: June 30, 2016
Garment workers’ red flag protest procession in Dhaka city
NGWF demands payment of Festival Bonus, Salary & Allowance to workers immediately, hold judicial trial of factory owners for violating government order
The National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) took away a “garment workers red flag procession” in Dhaka city today (June 30, 2016) from in front of National Press Club (NPC) demanding payment of Eid (festival) Bonus, salary-allowances immediately. NGWF also demanded that the government should hold judicial trial of factory owners, who violated government order to pay Eid (festival) bonus, salary & allowances within 20thday of Ramadan (June 26).
Addressing the pre-procession rally in front of NPC, labour leaders demanded immediate payment of Eid (festival) Bonus, salary-allowances to all workers, including garment workers. They regretted that half (50%) of the factory owners in the RMG sector did not pay festival bonus, salary & allowances within the 20th Ramadan and thereby violated the government’s order.
Urging the government to take punitive legal action against the violators, the labour leaders said, “Factory owners/ management will not repeat the violation of government order to make payment to the workers, if they were subjected to legal trial now.”
A “garment workers’ red flag procession” was taken out which concluded at Purana Paltan Crossing parading important streets of Dhaka city. Several hundreds garment workers took part at the rally & in the procession.
Presided over by NGWF President Amirul Haque Amin the rally was addressed by General Secretary Ms Safia Parvin, Central leaders Md Faruque Khan, Mrs Arifa Akter, Md Rafiqul Islam Rafique & Mrs Ranu Begum, among others.
Executive President of Jatiya Sramik Federation and Polite Bureau member Quamrul Ahsan and General Secretary of Ekota Garment Workers Federation Quamrul Hasan addressed the rally expressing solidarity with the NGWF & the struggles of the garment workers.
The labour leaders regretted that millions of garment workers suffering from uncertainty about celebrating Eid Festival along with their family and children since they did not get Eid (festival) Bonus, salary-allowances. The Ministry of Labour & Employment instructed factory owners/ management to pay Eid (festival) Bonus, salary-allowances to workers of all sectors, including the garment sector before 20 Ramadan (June 26). They said, 3 days have gone after the 20thRamadan (June 26) but millions of workers did not get Eid (festival) Bonus & salary-allowances. The factory owners/ management, who did not pay the workers, have violated the government order & thereby law.
The labour leaders asserted that factory owners would enjoy luxurious Eid shopping and engage in hilarity in Hong Kong, Singapore & Bangkok while the garment workers, who earn 81 per cent of export earnings, could not participate in Eid festivity—this inhuman situation cannot be accepted.
Press Secretary, NGWF
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