'Garment workers not involved'

Garment workers were not involved in June 27-29 mayhem in Ashulia rather a vested interest group was taking advantage of the situation, said leaders of Garment Workers Unity Forum yesterday.
They said the local goons and “jhoot” [garment rejects] traders were fuelling the discontent among the workers to take control of business in the area.
Longstanding demands for better wage and benefits of low-paid workers had been sidetracked because of the violent turn of events, they added.
Addressing a press conference at the forum's office in Topkhana Moshrefa Mishu, chairperson of the forum, said the workers of S Suhi Ltd was staging a peaceful demonstration on 27 June when the Ansar provoked by the management of the company opened fire.
She claimed that several workers of S Suhi were still missing after the shooting incident.
“Survival of garment workers directly depends on these factories. The workers would never jeopardise their livelihood in such a way. A third party is responsible for using the situation,” she said.
“The owners must understand if the workers' demands are met they too will gain from it. It will ensure peaceful working atmosphere and increase production. Half fed workers can never work properly,” she added.
The forum leaders urged the government to ensure trade union rights of garment workers and prioritise their demands scrapping plans to establish industrial police and workers welfare committee.
They also urged the government to formulate a wage board and minimum wage of Tk 5000 considering the price hike of essentials.