Ensure Tk 400 daily wage for tea workers

Tea workers under the banner of Bangladesh Cha Sramik Federation have reiterated the demand for setting Tk 400 as their minimum daily wage and proper implementation of labour laws in the industry. 

To press for the demand, the federation organised a roundtable at the hall room of Moulvibazar Press Club in the district town on Sunday.

 “We, the representatives of tea workers in different tea estates of Moulvibazar, have gathered here to protest the deprivation that we have been suffering for long,” said Gian Urang, president of Moulvibazar tea garden panchayet committee.

Although the tea sector brings high profit, the workers live an awfully poor life with the daily wage of Tk 102, Rajequzzaman Ratan, president of Socialist Workers Front, said in his speech as the chief guest at the programme.

“We demand implementation of minimum wage of Tk 400 and entitlement to legal framework to change the working conditions of tea workers,” said Advocate Abul Hasan, central committee member of Socialist Workers Front.

Speakers at the roundtable recommended publishing a white paper on the financial condition of the tea industry and the owners’ spending on the maintenance of the gardens.