Key Points of ASK Press Statement

• ASK Demand immediate and effective measures from the Government and BGMEA for payment of arrears and Eid festival allowance of workers;

• Urge the Government to take suitable steps after assessing this problem/crisis and provide a remedy.

• Protesting for due salary allowances is the constitutional rights of workers;

•  No active measures taken by Government or the Bangladesh Garment Owners Association (BGMEA);

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is expressing deep concern over the ongoing hunger strike by garment workers of Tuba Group demanding the arrears of their wage and festival allowance.

It came to our knowledge through various media that around 1200 garment workers of Tuba Group are on hunger strike since 28 July 2014, demanding for the payment of three months (May-July 2014) wages, overtime payments, and Eid allowances and 92 workers have fallen ill since then with 9 of them being hospitalized.  It has also been known that, although Tuba Group has earned around 39 crore Taka from their exports in the last six months from January to June 2014, but around 1600 of their workers have not been received their wage, allowances and no active measure has taken by BGMEA (association of apparel industry owners) and the Government.

We reiterate that it is the democratic right of workers to organize peaceful protest demanding their basic amenities including wage and allowances.  The owners of apparel industries are making profits in crores of taka, but they have no concern about ensuring the basic rights of workers. Even in the past, we have witnessed the owners that have given not paying attention to the livelihood of workers and giving rise to significant insecurities among them, owing to which they end up clamorous demanding their dues.

We urge the BGMEA and Government to take necessary actions to pay immediately the workers of Tuba Group their arrears of wage and allowances along with compensations.  We also urge the Government to protect this important economic sector by taking prudent steps, making thorough analysis of this type of crisis.

Photo Credits : Taslima Akhter