Leaders of the Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP), a platform of over a dozen labour rights bodies, on Friday demanded making arrangements for Covid treatment and priority-based vaccination for readymade garment (RMG) workers.

They also demanded proper compensation for the workers in case of Covid death, corona risk allowance and bearing extra-conveyance cost for them.

The SKOP leaders came up with the demands from a demonstration rally held in front of the Jatiya Press Club.

They harshly criticised the irresponsible decision for opening the mills-factories, keeping the public transport suspended.

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The worker leaders demanded the punishment for the responsible persons who harassed the workers by forcing them to join work suddenly amid the countrywide Covid lockdown.

They claimed that the employers are plotting to cut off wages for the days when the factories were closed due to the Covid lockdown, and also hindering the workers from joining work in many factories. But these efforts will not be tolerated, they warned.

The leaders said any job cut or any curtailment in salary or overtime allowance would not be accepted during the corona period.

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SKOP joint coordinator Shahidullah Chowdhury presided over the rally conducted by Ahsan Habib Bulbul, said a release.

President of Samajtantrik Sramik Front Razequzzaman Ratan, President of Jatiya Sramik Jote Bangladesh Saifuzzaman Badsha, President of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation Nazma Akter, Convener of Garments Sramik and Shilpa Rokkha Jatiya Moncha Abul Hossain and General Secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Sangha Chowdhury Ashikul Alam.