The Bangladeshi NGO Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) expressed concern that Tuba Group garment workers remained unpaid and that the government had not done enough to ensure that they were paid their arrears, in a press release issued yesterday.
Unpaid workers of five garment factories operated by the group have been observing a hunger strike since July 28 to demand three months’ pay, overtime dues and Eid bonuses. At least 92 workers fell sick during demonstrations and nine were admitted to hospital for treatment.
Workers said that their employer would need to pay out Tk4.13cr to meet outstanding payroll dues.
The ASK press release said media sources estimated Tuba Group’s export earnings from January to June 2014 to be TK39cr, prompting the NGO to ask why wages and dues had not been paid.
ASK stated that it was the RMG workers’ democratic right to demonstrate to be paid their dues.
The humanitarian organisation said that factory owners who flouted the rules were ultimately responsible for labourers’ protests demanding fair and lawful treatment.
In its press release, the NGO called on the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the government to take initiatives to ensure workers were paid their dues, stressing the importance of good management practices in this critical sector of the economy.
