The ready-made garment (RMG) workers on the occasion of May Day have demanded Tk24,000 as the lowest monthly wage following the high cost of living due to the price hike of essentials.
Two labour rights organizations Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation and Progressive Garments Workers Federation jointly held a human chain and rally marking the May Day in front of Rana Plaza in Savar.
Meanwhile, the two organizations highlighted the various hardships of the garment workers and demanded the immediate announcement of Tk24,000 as a minimum wage for the garment workers.
The labour leaders also demanded a 10% annual increment for garment workers, women and children safety, education, daycare centre system, construction of housing, six months maternity welfare leave for women workers passed a law, inclusion of EPZ in labour law and free trade union rights and cases filed in Labour Court to be settled within 150 days.
They also demanded to ensure workplace safety, compensation for the damages to the workers in Tazreen and Rana Plaza, providing rehabilitation and declaring April 24 as National Mourning Day for the collapse of Rana Plaza
Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation President Rafiqul Islam Sujan said: "Due to price hikes of essentials it is difficult to survive on two meals a day with the wages that workers are paid. For a long time we have been demanding the formation of a new wage board for garment workers, today again on this May Day we demand the government to immediately set the minimum wage of garment workers at Tk24,000."
Some labour rights organizations held programs in Bypail, Bagabari, Jamgora and some areas of Savar on Monday afternoon.