Today on 20 April press conference of Garment and Textile Workers Union was held at Nirmol Sen Auditorium based in 23/2 Tofkhana road, Dhaka. In the press conference organized at 11 am the written speech was read out by militant convener of Garment and Textile Workers Forum and labor leader Shahidul Islam Sabuj. Among others, Central leaders of the Convening Committee Mintu Miah, Maha Mirja, Shah Alam Hossain, Tomijuddin Hossain Biplop and Khorshed Alam were present in the conference.

In the written statement it is said that if there arises any question of movement and struggle in demand of workers including increase in wage, trade union right and democratic labor law enactment, the government and owners quarters are sensing the indiscipline and conspiracy. Not complying with demands of salary increase including all other reasonable demands, the state mechanism, musclemen forces and hired goons atrociously come to combat the imaginary unruly and conspiracy. However, whoever comes brutally, the reall fact will come out. For the question of existence and survival or perishing of workers are related to this fact. Having no food in hungry, no cloth for wearing, no shelter for living, no measures to take when nears and dears are about to die without and treatment they feel obsessed about their entities in society. Thus, there is no scope to be silent.
A large number of people in the country are working the garment sector. If their fundamental rights are not ensured it is not possible to establish democracy in the country. Hence the increase in salary of workers is a common demand. All are called on to build an united movement and struggle in order to fulfill that demand.

Based on the demands below the Garment and Textile Workers Forum will build movement and struggle in the days to come.

1. Basic wage Tk. 10000/- and total minimum wage should be given to garment workers

2.Gratuity, 3 festival bonuses, presence and production incentives should be given to garment worker

3. Piece rate should be decided based on discussion with the labors before the stuff is released in the floor of the sweater factories

4. Appointment card, identity card and service book should be given to the workers. Random retrenchment should be fully stopped

5. Free trade union right should be ensured in all factories including EPZ

6. Democratic labor law should be enacted repealing all undemocratic and anti-labor interest clause in the existing labor law

7. Labor tribunal should be formed in all industrial areas. A case in the labor tribunal should be disposed of within 3 months

8. All false filed cases against leaders and workers should unconditionally be withdrawn

9. All forms of violence against woman workers including sexual assault should be stopped and anti-sexual assault policy should be introduced
10. Steps should be taken to ensure taking pure drinking water and separate and adequate sanitary toilets for woman workers should be arranged in every factory

11. 6 moths maternity leave with salary should be provided with to the female pregnant women

12. Day care center for children should be constructed in every factory

13. Safe, hygienic and democratic work environment should be created in every factory

14.Colony should be built for workers and employees in the labor intensive areas. Vehicles should be ensured for their transportation

15. Holidays should be promulgated in all factories declaring the 24 April as Labor Mourn Day. The killer owners of Tajreen and Rana Plaza should given exemplary punishment

16. Modern fire extinguisher arrangement, well-wider alternative staircase and modern alarming system in the factory should be in effective. Compensation law should be amended.

Programs in ahead:

1. On 24 April 2018 demonstration in front of Rana Plaza Building demanding trial of killer (Owner of Rana Plaza) of workers and the continuation of treatment of the wounded survival in Rana Plaza Building collapse on 24 April 2013 in Savar

2. Workers rallies and discussion meeting in observance of May Day, International Labor Solidarity Day

3. Meetings, rallies, processions and demonstrations across the month May in garment workers areas

4. Discussion meeting on Sohag killing day on 20 May 2018