Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chairman GM Quader has expressed solidarity with the demand for a minimum wage of Tk 30,000 for ready-made garment (RMG) workers. At the same time, he strongly condemned the use of force, torture and arrests by law enforcement agencies to suppress the workers’ movement.
In a statement on Wednesday, GM Quader said that due to high inflation and abnormal price hike of daily necessities, the daily life of the RMG workers has become very difficult on the current salary. However, the government has chosen the path of repression instead of sympathizing with their just demands.
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Condemning the death of a garment worker named Toufiq who was injured in the forceful use of force by law enforcement agencies in Gazipur while undergoing treatment, he said that the family of the deceased should be given fair compensation.
In the statement, GM Quader further said that the garment industry owners are now under severe pressure due to the increase in electricity and gas prices, fuel supply crisis, increase in raw material prices and problems in the banking sector. As a result, it is the responsibility of the government to provide a fair solution to the demands of both the workers and the owners.
The Jatiya Party chairman proposed that the government provide subsidies to ensure fair wages for the RMG workers.
For this, he suggested providing cash assistance or supplying rice, pulses, flour, edible oil, sugar, salt and cooking fuel to the RMG workers through a rationing system.