Water transport workers’ indefinite strike from tonight
Water transport workers will go for indefinite work abstention from tonight to press home their 15-point demands including wage hike.
Workers of all kinds of passenger and cargo vessels under the banner of Nou-Sramik Sangram Parishad enforced the work abstention, said a press release.
However, oil tankers will remain out of purview of the programme, the press release also read.
The 15-point demands include a minimum monthly wage of Tk 10,000 for workers and increase in overtime pay, festival bonuses and other benefits.
Currently, the minimum wage of a water transport worker is Tk 3,900, they said.
“The price of essentials has been raised and overall expenses have also been increased. It is not possible for us to survive with the existing wages,” said Bulbul Ahmed, convener of the parishad.
“We repeatedly requested vessel owners and government authorities to increase our wages. But they didn’t pay heed to us. So, we have no alternative but to go for work abstention,” he told The Daily Star.
Earlier on April 21, the workers enforced the work abstention on the same demands. However, they called off the programme on April 27 following the owners’ assurance to fulfill the demands.
Later, the owners did not implement their pledges, the workers alleged.
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