RMG workers demand Eid bonus by June 26

MNA Editorial Desk: Issues related to bonus of RMG workers are occurring every year and this year, the RMG workers demand Eid bonus by June 26.

The leaders of different labor organizations on Friday demanded payment of their salaries and Eid bonus by June 26 (20th Ramadan) as they gathered to raisee voice at a human-chain organized in front of the National Press Club on Monday.

This call came from a human-chain, attended by leaders and members of Bangladesh Garments Industry Workers Federation, National Garments Workers Alliance and other labor leaders on Friday. They told that, the labors will not accept it if the owners vacillate in paying up the salaries and bonuses by the specified date.

They also said that the workers faced unbearable compression to meet the buyers’ supplementary orders throughout Ramadan and in advance of the Eid-ul-Fitr as the Eid will fall in the first week of July and the salary and bonus needs to be paid on time.

The government has already advised the owners of RMG units across Bangladesh to pay the workers their Eid bonuses by the 21st day of Ramadan.

About three hundred workers and their leaders from Bangladesh Garments Industry Workers Federation, National Garments Workers Alliance and other labor leaders took part in the human chain.

The economy of Bangladesh is largely dependent on agriculture. However the Ready Made Garments (RMG) sector has emerged as the biggest earner of foreign currency. In 1972, the World Bank approximated the gross domestic product (GDP) of Bangladesh at USD 6.29 billion, in 2014, the GDP stood at USD 173.82 billion, growing by almost 27 times in a matter of four decades.

Bangladesh’s exports industry alone comprised USD 31.2 billion in FY 2014-15, 81.69% of which was made up by ready-made garments. On its own, the knitwear sector encompasses 39.83% of total exports—a staggering USD 12.43 billion.

The RMG sector has experienced an exponential growth since the 1980s. The sector contributes significantly to the GDP. It also provides employment to around 4.2 million Bangladeshis, mainly women from low income families.