In last three days, workers of five factories at the EPZ raised their voice for realising their demands. One of the factory owners has already conceded to the demands but the others have either accepted partially or are trying to evade those, the workers said.

Their demands include payment of 60 per cent of a worker's gross wages as 'basic wages', 30 per cent house rent, 10 per cent medical allowance and Tk 20 per day for lunch, Tk 12 as transport fare and Tk 150 a month as attendance bonus.

According to BEPZA (Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority) rules, all garment workers are entitled to such payment.

A number of workers from different EPZ factories yesterday told this correspondent that their wages have not increased for years. In some cases, workers of certain sections now get less than what they used to get earlier.

"I used to get Tk 30 per piece of sweater five years ago. But now I get Tk 18 to 20 for the same. How can I survive while the prices of daily necessities are spiralling," said one worker.

Another worker said, " I have been earning around Tk 5,000 per month for the last five years. My wages have not increased but prices of all essentials have soared. Our miseries have multiplied."

Narrating their plight, some workers said they needed Tk 700-800 for food and lodging five years ago as against around Tk 1,800 now. But their earnings remain almost the same.

Many of the factories, particularly knitting factories, do not provide the workers wages and other facilities as per BEPZA rules, they alleged.

Workers of some EPZ factories living in Bhadail Bazar area of Savar said workers of Ring Shine factory first raised demands for wages and facilities as per the rules on May 25, two days after the massive workers agitation in Savar area.

Ring Shine owners have accepted the demands as the workers went for fresh agitation three days ago.

Following this, workers of another factory started agitation on May 30 for the same demands and for payment of three months' wages of more than 100 workers who were sacked several months ago.

Similar agitation started in another factory on May 31 and two more factories on June 1.

Earlier reports said agitating workers at one factory beat up 20 staffs including a foreigner.

The workers said they also demand resignation of some mid-level staff at some factories who harass them very often. Their peaceful agitation would continue till their demands are met.

"It is impossible for us to survive with the wages we get. We have no alternative but to go for agitation for higher wages," said one worker.

When contacted, some owners said these days they are getting orders with less CM (manufacturing costs), so they cannot offer much wages for workers of knitting section.

"The market has become so competitive that we have to take orders although buyers offer less CM. Ultimately, it is affecting the marginal workers," he said requesting anonymity.