Labour leaders and activists on Friday asked the government to take necessary steps for pay hikes of the apparel workers immediately and demanded reinstatement of the fired workers. The leaders also demanded withdrawal of all cases filed against Ashulia-based apparel workers and their leaders, following the latest spate of labour unrest in early December, over the wage hike.They also called for the release of labour activists detained in the cases, following that event.The leaders said the minimum wage of a worker should be increased to Tk 16,000 from the existing Tk 5,300.These demands were made in a discussion organised by Garment Workers’ Trade Union Centre in the capital, chaired by the organisation’s president, Montu Ghosh.‘Please form a wage board immediately, release the detained workers and their leaders and withdraw cases filed against them,’ urged GWTUC general secretary, KM Ruhul Amin.At least 2,000 apparel workers were sacked, 10 cases against 1,500 workers were filed while 23 people, including nine labour leaders, were arrested in connection with the labour unrest, according to police.The trade union president, Montu Ghosh, said that the unrest-like situation would not normalise unless factory owners reinstate the sacked workers and accept their demands. Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad coordinator Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam, Industry-All Bangladesh Council secretary general, Kutubuddin Ahmed said a united movement would be launched to realise the proposed minimum wage of Tk 16,000.‘We collectively should stand beside the workers,’ said Ahsan Habib Bulbul, president of Garment Workers’ Front. The leaders however vowed to get united for the movement to establish the just rights of the workers.Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies executive director, Syed Sultan Uddin Ahamed, observed that the state minister for labour and employment, Mujibul Haque intentionally and wrongly explained the labour law when he said minimum wages could not be upgraded in five years since the last minimum wage had been announced.‘Wage hike is possible at any time, if the government wants it,’ he said.Sultan said workers’ movement in Ashulia was legitimate and peaceful but they did not get any supports from any labour organisations.‘There is a kind of lack of guardian workers that the apparel industry now needs,’ he said criticising the role of the organisations.Bangladesh Trade Union Centre president Shahidullah Chowdhury criticised the government that they were not working for the labourers but for the owners.‘Wage hike will depend on how strong you are,’ said the eminent labour leader.There has been a frightening environment prevailing at Ashulia following the last labour unrest, said economist Anu Muhammad, adding the labour organisations should hold programmes at Ashulia to remove their fear.‘The government and the apparel industry owners are the same people. The workers have been living in fear, stand beside them,’ he said.
