The garments workers' union on Sunday placed a five-point demand to the government urging its Implementation for increasing revenue earning from the sector, reports UNB.

"We simply want Implementation of the workers' demands, we want to vitalise the sector and do not want it to be Jeopardised by sheer mistakes', said Haroon ur Rashid, president of Sammilita Garments Sramik Jote (SGSJ).

Addressing a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club this afternoon, he said the garments workers, who fetch for the country the highest amount of foreign currency, are deprived of their due wages and forced to an Inhuman living.

Women and children, who

constitute about 85 and 20 per cent work force respectively In the sector, have been at the mercy of the owners's whim and caprice, he said alleging "their human rights are being denied."

He further alleged that the owners were not only depriving the workers of their due wages but also denying the government revenue to the tune of Tk 200 crore annually through fraudulent practices.

He urged the authorities for early implementation of their demands added a cautionary note that greater movement will be launched soon to press' home the charter.

The demands, sub-sectored together, constituted about 30 demands including minimum wage fixation equivalent to prices of five maunds of rice.

Issuing of appointment letters, safety measures for women workers, five per cent profit bonus, Inclusion of worker representatives in wage board and labour court, education facilities for children and holidays, housing and medical fa-cilities.

It also included separate ministry for the garments' sector, resumption of production tn lay off factories, monthly allowances for the mother workers and Introduction of shifting system for incorporating larger number of workers.

SGSJ City Committee President Babul Akhter Rani, Senior Vice President Shawkat Abu Taher and Organising Secretary Ikbal Karim were also present at the press conference.