Workers seek overtime, festival bonus

The National Shop Employee Federation yesterday demanded  an allowance for working overtime along with two festival bonuses, which is mentioned in Bangladesh labour law, to ensure that workers receive the benefits to which they are legally entitled to.

Shop employees work for 12 hours in Ramadan and the night before Eid but don't get any bonus in return, they added.

The federation made 14 other demands, including formation of a wage board and a minimum wage of Tk 20,000 per month.

They were speaking at a press conference held at the capital's Dhaka Reporters Unity, in response to the announcement of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association to extend trading hours during the month of Ramadan.

The federation demanded not more than eight working hours a day during Ramadan and to get at least half a day of holiday per week in that time.

Furthermore, the shop employees demanded for official job documentation including appointment letters and identity cards.