Owners accept demands of workers, all garment factories open from Wednesday

Labour Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan said that all the demands raised by the workers will be met.

He also said that all the garment factories will be open from tomorrow, Wednesday (September 25).

This decision was taken after extensive discussion between representatives of both sides in the meeting of BGMEA leaders and labour union leaders held in the conference room of the ministry on Tuesday (24 September). Four advisors of the interim government were present in the meeting.

Labour Adviser Asif Mahmud said that all workers have been asked to join the work from Wednesday to save the industry of the country. Strict measures will be taken if any of the sides (owners-workers) refuses to comply with or implement the 18 demands.

At the meeting, the owners accepted the demands of the workers, including allocation of the Tiffin bill, implementation of minimum wages in all factories by October, and payment of ration through TCB and OMS in labour-intensive areas.

Other key demands include ensuring adequate compensation and rehabilitation for the slain federation members and families of the workers, immediate withdrawal of false cases filed against garment workers during the recent wage agitation, stopping illegal blacklisting of workers, and cancellation of all previous blacklisting.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, and Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter were also present at the meeting.