Demanding Arrears: Jute mill workers in Khulna demonstrate

Workers of the nine state-owned jute mills in Khulna yesterday staged a demonstration to press home their 11-point demand, including payment of due salary and implementation of the wage commission.

They also announced a seven-day agitation programme under the banner of “State-owned Jute Mill Collective Bargaining Association (CBA) and Non-CBA Sangram Parishad”. The programme was announced at a separate meeting and demonstration rally at the jute mills in Khulna-Jashore region yesterday.

The announced programmes include hunger procession on November 25, hunger strike at different mill gates from 8am to 5pm on November 27, protest rally on December 2, and strike on December 5.

They threatened a tougher movement if their demands are not met immediately.    

The demands include cancellation of public-private ownership, payment of provident fund gratuity for retired workers, regularising weekly wages and implementation of the wage commission, payment of outstanding bills etc. They also demanded that the government buy jute products for other sectors.

Murad Hossain, president of Crescent Jute Mill CBA, told The Daily Star that wages of 11 weeks are outstanding. “Jute workers are in a dire state. Many families are suffering from financial crisis while the wage commission is yet to be implemented,” he said, demanding immediate payment of arrears.