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 20th
day 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 20th
Ramadan (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
