The Bangladesh Trade Union Centre (TUC) has demanded the payment of outstanding wages and bonuses for workers in all factories and institutions, including garment factories, by the 20th of Ramadan, and the declaration of a national minimum wage of 30,000 taka.
This demand was made during a rally held in front of the National Press Club on Saturday (March 1), marking Shaheed Tajul Day.
Speakers stated that due to the soaring prices of essential commodities, the working class and low-income people of the country are facing extreme hardships. In such circumstances, for the sake of production and the national economic interest, the national minimum wage should be set at 30,000 taka to ensure the survival of workers. Additionally, they demanded that the outstanding wages and bonuses of workers and employees be paid by the 20th of Ramadan. The government must take appropriate decisions on this matter within the current week.
They stated that it is urgent to stop murder, Sexual assault, oppression, job dismissals, abolish the outsourcing system, replacing it with permanent appointments. They also emphasized the need for the implementation of a maternity welfare law for six months. During the rally, the leaders called for the implementation of ILO Conventions 87 and 98, as well as the ratification of Conventions 102, 189, and 190.
The rally was presided over by TUC Vice President Mahbub Alam, and the organization’s office secretary, Sahida Parveen Shikha, read out the declaration. Other speakers included TUC’s Finance Secretary Kazi Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Publicity Secretary Mobarak Hossain, Education and Research Secretary Aslam Khan, and central leader Advocate Montu Ghosh.
LND/S H
