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Union leaders in the readymade garment sector on Monday raised a number of demands, including a national wage structure for all sectors, a uniform labour law to ensure the rights of all workers, and addressing barriers to form trade unions.
They also demanded wage hikes every two years considering the cost of living, fixing 65 per cent basic payment and 15 per cent annual increment, six months of maternity leave, introducing mandatory provident fund, and ending the use of central fund for group insurance.
Their other demands included withdrawing the 20 per cent worker requirement for trade union registrations, establishing an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, and punishing factory owners for violating labour laws.
They raised the demands at two separate meetings with the labour reform commission, headed by its Chairman Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, held at Srama Bhaban in the capital.
Six unions, including Industriall Bangladesh Council, Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP), G-SKOP, and Trade Union Centre, jointly put forward a proposal containing 11 demands before the commission during the morning meeting.
According to the proposal, living wages should be fixed considering the basic needs, the prices of essentials, and other matters. Besides, the basic payment should be 65 per cent while overtime, bonus, and service benefits should be calculated based on that.
Talking to The Financial Express, SKOP Member Razekuzzaman Ratan said they had proposed a national wage structure and a uniform labour law so that all workers, irrespective of economic zones and whether they work in the formal or informal sector, get equal benefits.
All the hassles that create barriers to trade union formations must be removed and there should not be any threshold for trade union registrations, he said.
The proposal also suggested increasing the punishment for violating legal requirements regarding recruitment, such as not giving the appointment letter, identity card, and service book.
Meanwhile, labour leader Shafiul Islam at the evening meeting said the laws must be amended to ensure service benefits even for workers with a one-year service period and incorporate punishment provisions if cases are not settled.
Lovely Yasmin, another labour leader, proposed forming an emergency fund to clear workers' dues and ensuring the welfare fund's use for the welfare of workers and their families only.
Labour leaders also demanded subjecting factory owners to punitive measures, saying such punishments had either been removed or made lenient in many cases during the past amendments to the laws.
They demanded minimum monthly wages of Tk 25,000 for garment workers with a 15 per cent annual increment.
Syed Sultan said the commission would submit its report within the stipulated time despite constraints.