Reinstate 12,436 sacked RMG workers immediately

A section of garment workers, who were sacked during a recent labour movement, demanded immediate reinstatement to their jobs and withdrawal of the cases against them.

They placed the demands at a protest rally organised by National Garment Workers Federation, a trade union, in front of Jatiya Press Club in the capital yesterday.

The federation claimed that a total of 12,436 workers of 104 garment factories in Dhaka and nearby districts were sacked during the labour movement -- from December 2018 to February 2019 -- which was held centring wage increment.

Following the movement, about 38 cases were filed against 7,458 workers, who are facing police harassment often, it added.

Amirul Haque Amin, president of the federation, said the workers were sacked irrationally and the cases are based on false allegations.

“We demand immediate reinstatement of the workers. We also demand withdrawal of the false cases and stopping police harassment,” he added.

Amirul urged the government and the authorities concerned, particularly Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), to take necessary steps in this regard.

He also said one of the workers was killed during the movement but his family is yet to receive proper compensation from the authorities.

The federation’s general secretary Arifa Akter, central leaders Safia Parvin and Aleya Begum, as well as leaders from other trade unions also spoke on the occasion.

More than one hundred garment workers and trade union leaders took part in the protest rally carrying banners and placards containing their demands.

After the rally, they brought out a procession which paraded several nearby roads.