Women still victims of wage discrimination

Women labourers worked for road development at Nilkuthi village under Gazaria union in Phulchhari upazila of Gaibandha but were deprived of wages equal to their male counterparts. PHOTO: STAR

Women labourers in Phulchhari upazila under the district have to remain 'satisfied' with much lower wages than that of their male counterparts, thanks to the exploitative attitude of the employers.
Driven by poverty, a large number of women in remote char areas now work as labourers in the local crop fields to earn livelihood as male people often migrate to other places in search of seasonal work for higher wages, creating vacancy in the local labour market.
Many women are engaged as construction workers under the government's development programmes or NGO projects.
A good number of women also work in rice mills and hotels and restaurants in Fulchhari upazila.
In crop fields, a woman labourer gets Tk 100 as daily wage while a male gets Tk 150 for the same work, said Mariam Begum of Khatiyamari village in Phulchhari upazila.
A female rice mill worker gets Tk 110 against Tk 175 received by a male.
The women often remain silent over such disparity in fear of losing job, said Monwara Begum of Baushi village.
"Over 350 women labourers are working in 15 rice mills of the upazila. They remain deprived of fair wages. Besides, they often face sexual harassment by their male co-labourers," said Shafiullah Akand, director of Dristi Mohila Sangstha, an NGO working in Gazaria union of Phulchhari upazila.
The woman labourers should be paid equally, as they serve against adverse environment, said Monotosh Roy Mintu, chairman of Gazaria union.
"The women comprise a good portion of workforce in crop fields, rice mills and restaurants as many males leave home for a pretty long time in search of work elsewhere. These women should be paid fair wages," said Yousuf Rana Mandol, upazila agriculture officer of Phulchhari.