‘We’re not asking for charity’
Over thirty thousand workers of nine state-owned jute mills in Khulna-Jashore industrial belt demonstrated yesterday to press home their 11-point demand, including payment of due salary and implementation of a wage commission.
Holding empty plates -- symbolising that they have nothing to eat and are unable to support their families -- hundreds of workers brought out a hunger procession in the morning and blockaded Khulna-Jashore highway at Natun Rasta intersection in Khulna city for 30 minutes till 10am.
Earlier, workers of Daulatpur, Khalishpur, Crescent, Platinum and Star jute mills gathered in front of their workplaces around 9am and demonstrated. Workers of Alim and Eastern jute mills workers held a rally in Atra industrial area of the city.
In Jashore, workers of Jashore Jute Industry and Carpeting Jute Mills Ltd brought out a hunger procession in Rajghat area.
The demonstration was part of their seven-day agitation programme, announced under the banner of “State-owned Jute Mills Collective Bargaining Association (CBA) and Non-CBA Sangram Parishad” on November 17 in Dhaka.
The programmes include hunger processions, hunger strike at different mill gates from 8am to 5pm on November 27, a protest rally on December 2, and strike on December 5.
The workers threatened a tougher movement if their demands are not met immediately.
Their demands include cancellation of public-private ownership, payment of provident fund gratuity for retired workers, regularising weekly wages and implementation of the wage commission, and payment of outstanding bills. They also demanded that the government buy jute products for other sectors.
Amzadul Haq, a permanent worker of Platinum Jute Mill, told The Daily Star that workers are struggling to make ends meet. “We only get Tk 1,600 per week but the government is not even paying that amount. I have school-going children, I cannot even pay their fees.”
Mizanur Rahman of the same jute mill said, “It’s been almost three months, we still haven’t gotten paid. What will we eat now?”
“We’re not asking for charity, we’re asking for our dues,” he said.
Sahana Sharmin, president of CBA at the jute mill, said workers are facing hardship for years including irregular payment from the government.
She said though the government announced a wage board on June, 2015, it was yet to be implemented.
Murad Hossain, president of CBA at Crescent Jute Mill, said at least 11 weeks’ wages 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.
He also demanded immediate payment of arrears.
Around 11 weeks’ wages are due of workers at Crescent, Platinum and Star jute mills while 9 weeks of Khalishpur mill workers and 10 weeks of Daulatpur mill, said workers.
The other mill workers are also not being paid regularly and their salary is at least 7-8 weeks due.
CTG WORKERS DEMAND ARREARS
Workers of Amin Jute Mill in Chattogram also demonstrated in front of the mill in the morning, reports our staff correspondent from Chattogram.
Hundreds of workers brought out a procession around 9am in Bayezid area, demanding due salaries of 11 weeks.
Mohammad Mostafa, general secretary of Sramik Karmachari Union, said expressing solidarity with other jute mill workers, they demonstrated over the 11-point demand.
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