Readymade garment workers and their leaders demanded payment of wages and festival allowances to the workers before Eid-ul Azha. They also demanded increase of wages considering price hike of the daily essentials. New Age correspondent from Savar reported that garment workers from different factories at Savar formed a human chain at Rana Plaza site on Friday and demanded 100 per cent festival allowance. The workers under the banner of ‘Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation’ formed the human chain and demanded fare prices for essential goods. Rafiquel Islam Sujon, president of Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation presided over the rally where some other labour rights leaders were also present. Sujon said many factories terminate workers after Eid vacation and warned that if any factory terminates workers this year stern action will be taken against the factory. He thanked the prime minister for including the bonus system in the law and said 100 per cent bonus should be paid to workers before Eid. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Shramik Federation in a press release on Friday demanded providing 30 per cent dearness allowance for the workers. The federation leaders called for reducing the prices of essential commodities including oil, gas and electricity. Bangladesh Progressive Garment Workers’ Federation in a press release also demanded the increase of wages of garments workers considering the price hike of essentials. The leaders also demanded payment of wages and festival allowance within September 20.
