Readymade garments (RMG) workers have postponed their pre-announced strike, which was scheduled to be started from January 1.
The leaders of RMG labour organisations claim that they have postponed the programme due to pressure from the administration and garments owners. The upcoming national election is also a key reason behind the postponement of the strike, they added.
Sammilita Sramik Parishad (SSP) Chief Coordinator AAM Fayez Hossain on Friday told The Business Post that they have postponed their strike due to the upcoming national polls and pressure from different quarters like administration and garments owners.
“We will announce the new date for the strike soon after the election. We will continue our movement until the demands are met,” he said.
He said the law enforcement agencies put pressure on them and arrest them without showing any reasons. “We demand an end to any sort of torture on us.”
Fayez further said, “Actually, the situation is not in favour of the movement as the armed forces will be deployed from January 1 aiming to hold the election hassle-free. Considering many things, we have decided not to start our strike right now.”
Sammilita Sramik Parishad (SSP), an alliance of ten labour rights organisations, called the strike on Sunday, and claimed that so far 19 workers’ rights groups and federations expressed solidarity with them.
Their demands include trial of those responsible for deaths during the wage hike movement, treatment of injured workers, release of arrested workers, reinstatement of dismissed workers, and review of wages announced for the garment sector in favour of Tk 25,000 minimum wage.
On October 23, workers began protests seeking an increase in wages to help them cope with high inflation. The demonstrations turned violent, and continued till November 12.
During the unrest, at least four workers were killed, and hundreds got injured, while 26 factories were vandalised, and two were torched. Factory owners and police filed 43 cases against workers and trade union leaders, and 115 workers were sent to jail.
To handle the situation, over a hundred factories were forced to close, and as the situation cooled down following police action, most of the closed factories resumed production from November 15.
On November 26, the wage board set Tk 12,500 as minimum salary for the RMG sector, and reduced the grade from seven to four. Trade unions boycotted the wage structure citing insufficient and announced continued peaceful protests.
