Garment workers postpone today's strike call

The alliance consisting of 16 garment workers' organisations made the announcement following a written agreement between the leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and the alliance last night.

As per the agreement, garment owners agreed to issue appointment letters and identity cards for all workers, weekly holiday (any day), maternity leave, right to practice trade union, payment of double wage for overtime from July 1.

BGMEA President Tipu Munshi, Vice-president Abdus Salam Murshedi, Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, BKMEA leader MA Baset, alliance leader Kamrul Ahsan, Mahabubur Rahman Ismail and Joynal Abadin were present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, leaders of all mainstream trade unions of the garment sector proposed to the government names of three persons as workers' representatives in the newly formed minimum wage board.

The trade union leaders proposed the names of Roy Ramesh Chandra, Advocate Delwar Hossain and Kamrul Ahasan from whom the government will pick one.

Sources said the trade unions could not select a single name as workers' representative and that is why they sent three names to the labour ministry.

The next tripartite meeting between the government, readymade garment owners and garment workers' representatives would be held on Monday where they would demand the interim dearness allowance, said sources.