Campaign For The Implementation of May Day Holiday In The Garments Sector
May Day is a national paid holiday in Bangladesh. All the workers and employees of public and private sectors offices and industries enjoy the May Day holiday. But garment sector is a different. Many garment owners run their factories in May Day and forced the workers to work. In 2001, National Garments workers Federation ran a Short campaign and actions for the implementationof May Day holiday in the garment sector. As a part of this campaign, NGWF organized a central Rally of garments workers in Dhaka city on 20th April. The rally was addressed among others Md. Alam Kabir, Amirul Haque Amin, Miss Shahida Sarker, Md. Jahangir Mollah and Mrs. Nahar. Publicity processions also were organized in the different garments industrial areas of Dhaka city and other industrial districts outside Dhaka. On 27th April, NGWF organized a Torch procession in Dhaka city. The federation also publicized posters and leaflets for the implementation of May day holidays. Following these types of campaign, activities, posters and leaflets, another 10% garment factories were closed on May Day in 2001 compared to the previous year. And more 160.000 garments workers enjoyed the May Day holiday than the previous year.
read also: Bangladesh, May Day Campaign