Speakers pressed on change in mindset of the government and factory owners for a fair deal to ready-made garments workers on a consultation meeting organised by Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha on 27 May 2013. The consultation took place to discuss on needful, realistic steps to ensure fair wages for garments workers which would allow them to lead decent lives. Representatives of garments workers association, garments factory owners association, labour and political party leaders, women and civil society activists and academicians participated in consultation. They said, privileging only the owner’s interest while constant negligence to workers voice, denial of forming trade unions, ignoring ILO’s declarations and violating labour laws and industrial codes are behind the miseries of 4 million workers who are predominantly women work the maximum amount of time for the lowest possible wages. The discussants asserted for a collective effort to protect the workers and industries. Moderated by Rokeya Kabir, the consultation was addressed by labour leaders Roy Romesh Chandra, Montu Ghosh, Abul Hossain, Nasima Akter, CPB leaders Professor M M Akash, Ruhin Hossain Prince, JSD leader Shirin Akter, Sultan Ahmed, Director, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Afroza Houqe Reena, Dr. Pratima Paul-Majumder, Sayma Haq Bidisha, Lutfunnesa Beauty and others.  

The recommendations drawn in the discussion forwarded to the national parliament.