A representative body of the garment workers on Monday demanded raising the minimum wage for employees of the readymade garment sectors to Tk 16,000 a month.Bangladesh Garments Sramik Sanghati also demanded release of the workers who have been arrested during the recent demonstrations in Ashulia garments hub.The demands came from a human chain formed by leaders and workers of the organisation in front of the office of the garment owners’ organisation, Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). The workers’ leaders said the garment factory workers were compelled to go for the demonstration to realise their demand for a living wage and also to protest repression on them inside the factories. “Their demonstration is neither irrational nor unlawful. There is still an atmosphere of fear despite reopening of factories. Firing of workers from jobs continues as well,” president of the Sanghati Taslima Akter told the rally. She pointed out that the current minimum wage of Tk 5,300 a month is in no way enough to buy essential commodities and meet other needs of life these days. “It is just not possible to live on this wage,” she added. Reiterating the demand for formation of a new wage board for refixing the wage and other benefits, the garments workers leader said the workers would be able to lead a better life, should the owners “downsize a bit their profit and greed”. In such a case, the workers can send their children to schools whereas they cannot even keep their loved one with them while in service,” she said. The organisation’s leaders including Aminul Islam, Anjan Das, Dipok Roy and Minhazul Haque also addressed the rally.
