Women farm labourers denied fair wages

Women work in a farmland at Ramjiban in Sundarganj upazila under Gaibandha district yesterday. The area sees rise in the number of women farm labourers but they continue to face wage discrimination compared to their male counterparts. PHOTO: STAR

Women working as farm labourers in the chars (landmass emerged from riverbed) of Teesta River basin areas in Sundarganj upazila under the district have to accept much less wages than their male counterparts.
Six of the 17 unions in Sundarganj upazila are in the river basin areas that are covered with greenery during the dry season as the farmers cultivate jute, boro, wheat, kaon, chilli, onion, garlic and other rabi crops.
A large number of poor women work there to add to the family earning but a woman labourer gets Tk 90 as daily wage, whereas a male gets Tk 160 for the same work, said several workers.
"We have to work for low wages, because there is no alternative for survival," said Sakhina Begum, a widow at Belka char in Sundarganj upazila.
"My husband left home in search of work three months ago and so, I have to work in crop fields to arrange meal for my children," said Ajivan Begum of the same area.
"Male workers from this area often migrate to other districts for higher wages and stay there for months, leaving the family almost uncared. So the women have to work for maintaining their families," said Mozaharul Islam, chairman of Haripur union parishad.
Asked about the reason for lower payment to women, Kashem Ali, a landowner of Haripur, said, "Women labourers are sincere in working but they cannot render the same physical labour like males. And so, they get low wages."
Women working in brickfields and construction sites have also alleged discrimination regarding payment.