Asian workers cease strike after deal
The Asian workers, including 300 Bangladeshis, who had been on strike for 10 days protesting irregular payments and cutbacks in wages at a Jordanian garment factory, have gone back to work after signing of a tripartite agreement.
As per the agreement between the Jordanian labour ministry, MRAI Apparels and Asian workers, the employer will deduct only 10 Jordanian Dollars (JD) a month, instead of 25 JD for meals, accommodation and health care of each worker.
The Asian workers including 300 Bangladeshis, 500 Sri Lankans, 200 Indians and 100 Nepalese went on strike on August 31, which continued till September 9. A few agitating workers were injured as the Jordanian police charged baton on them during the strike.
The workers went back to work on September 10 after signing of the agreement.
As per the Jordanian law, labour strike is illegal and a worker is fined 2 JD for each day's strike. However, under the tripartite agreement, the authorities will not slap any fine on the Asian workers, Golam Mohammad, Bangladeshi ambassador to Jordan, told The Daily Star over telephone yesterday.
"We are now happy that an amicable solution has been reached and the workers resumed their work," he said.
The factory authorities also accepted the workers' demand for paying them at a special rate for overtime on holidays, said the Bangladesh ambassador.
The employers in the garment sector in Jordan prefer Bangladeshi workers for their efficiency. But the problem is that they often go on strike to realise their demands, he said, adding that all problems should be solved through discussion.
Jordan employs around 25,000 foreign workers mostly working in garment industries. The minimum monthly wage for garment workers is JD 110 ($150).
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