The demands include ensuring job security and social justice; setting up a minimum wage board for them; implementing national laws and regulations maintaining global standards; skills-based human resource management; ensuring a neat, hygienic and safe work environment; and starting labour welfare facilities.

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TWU president Abul Kalam Azad raised the demands at a coordination meeting organised by the TWU and Solidarity Centre in Dhaka, a news agency reported.

The union leaders also requested the authorities to set up a 50-bed hospital for tannery workers and others concerned with the industry; ensure social compliance, including full implementation of maternity welfare and waste management facilities. This would help a shift to achieving the Leather Working Group (LWG) certificate.

The country’s leather industry, employing around 5 lakh workers, is the second largest export-earning industry in the country. Bangladesh’s share in the global leather and products market is 3 per cent.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)