Temporary tea workers strike for equal wage
Several thousand temporary workers of 15 tea gardens in Sreemangal upazila yesterday observed a day-long work abstention demanding the same daily wages as the permanent workers, as per the recent wage agreement.
They also protested the new 'wage agreement' signed between the tea garden owners and workers' leaders on August 20.
As per the new agreement, the permanent workers are now getting Tk 102 as their daily wages, which was Tk 85 earlier.
Meanwhile, the temporary workers are mysteriously receiving the same Tk 85 they used to get earlier.
Although, the permanent workers have started getting their new wages from this month, temporary workers have been deprived of the opportunity, Bangladesh Cha Sramik Union, Sunacherra tea garden unit, President Kartik Nayek.
Kalighat Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Pranesh Guala said temporary tea workers of 15 gardens, including Lakhai Tea Garden, Kalighat Tea Garden, Fulcherra Tea Garden, Jakcherra Tea Garden and Sunacherra Tea Garden, observed the strike from morning, demanding equal wages as per the new agreement.
Usually, the wage agreement is signed every two years, but this year the tea garden owners took three year to put pen on paper, the UP chairman said.
Bijoy Hazra, president of Bangladesh Cha Sramik Union, Balishira Valley unit, said the workers returned to their work after getting assurance from the owners.
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