Indefinite work stoppage by 1200 workers of 14 jute baling presses of Daulatpur is hampering export of jute and jute goods through Mongla Port.
The workers under the banner of Wages Implementation Action Committee (WIAC) began work stoppage on last Monday to press home the demand for raising their weekly wages from Tk 863 to Tk 1726 for carrying 100 bales of jute each from godown to the bailing press.
Mohammad Motaleb Hossain, general secretary of WIAC, told this correspondent yesterday that they would not withdraw work stoppage until and unless their demand is fully met this time.
"There is no scope to term our call for work stoppage as illegal as we gave a prior notice to press owners on October 1, setting October 16 as deadline to fulfil our demand," he said.
It is very difficult to maintain families of jute press workers with the small amount of weekly wages they get when prices of all consumer goods including rice continue to rise, said the WIAC leader.
On the other hand, Kauser Sheikh, convenor of Daulatpur chapter of Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA), termed the work stoppage as illegal and illogical.
"Workers went on work stoppage at a time when a meeting between owners of jute baling presses and leaders of Jute Press Workers Union were being held on last Sunday to resolve the crisis. So, their call for work stoppage is contrary to the Labour Law and detrimental to economic interest of the country," the BJA leader said.
The work stoppage by workers of 14 jute baling presses will create adverse impact on jute export if buyers cancel their shipment orders, the BJA leader said.
However, he could not tell how much financial loss press owners and the country have incurred due to disturbance by work stoppage since last Monday.