Leaders of the Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad on Thursday called on the government and the factory owners to pay the workers wage arrears and festival allowances by June 20. The rally was meant for reminding the authorities ahead of Eid-ul Fitr about clearing the dues of the workers, so that they can enjoy the festival with their near and dear ones. The SKOP, a combine of the 13 labour rights bodies, organised the rally in front of the National Press Club. Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal president Anwar Hossain chaired. Bangladesh Labour Federation president Shah Mohammad Abu Zafar said the labourers get hand-to-mouth wages, and, therefore, they will not be able to enjoy Eid festival unless they get their wage arrears and festival allowances paid. Anwar Hossain urged both the government and the mills and factory owners to take steps to pay the workers their unpaid wages and festival allowances within June 20. The Eid festival will begin in the first week of July. Labour leaders Nur Mohammad, Abul Kalam Azad, Jahedul Haque Milu, Amirul Haque Amin, Naimul Ahsan Jewel, Mostafizul Karim Majumder, Quamrul Ahsan, Mostafizul Karim, Prakash Dutta, Nurul Islam Akand, among others, addressed the rally.Labour leaders Shahidullah Chowdhury, Wajed-ul Islam Khan, Razequzzaman Ratan were also present.
