'Political change needed to protect workers' interests'

Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil speaks at a seminar organised by Karmojibi Nari at Cirdap auditorium in the city yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

"It is not possible to protect workers' interests by such legislators who, with the strength of their black money, are representing them in parliament," he said.

Jalil was speaking at a daylong seminar on 'Minimum wages for workers for livelihood', organised by Karmojibi Nari, an NGO for working women, at Cirdap auditorium in the city.

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The AL general secretary said existing laws enacted by the ruling class can never protect the interests of the working people.

He stressed the need for unity among the people of working class to change their fate.

President of the Communist Party of Bangladesh Manjurul Ahsan Khan said the country's wage structure for workers is very unbalanced and discriminatory. Of them, the wage of women is very low.

He said even this minimal wage is not paid regularly, and as such the workers often agitate only to get arrears instead of demanding higher wages.

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said the issue of fixing minimum national wage for workers remains unsettled even after 33 years of independence.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu said there has to be a commitment by the state to provide minimum wage to the workers including equal wage for man and woman and ensuring proper working environment for them.

Speaking as chief guest, Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said although the rights of the workers have been recognised in the constitution, no government took any steps to fix the minimum wage for them.

He said in line with the price index, the wage of worker has not increased.

Nasreen Awal Mintoo, president of Women Entrepreneurs' Association of Bangladesh, said there is a communication gap between the employers and the workers.

She suggested a roundtable to bring the leaders of two sides for discussion.

In her presidential speech, Karmojibi Nari President Shirin Akhter stressed the need for unity among the workers to start a movement for fixing the minimum national wage.