Benapole port workers on strike for pay rise
Loading and unloading of goods at Benapole land port came to a halt as workers began an indefinite strike yesterday demanding implementation of the government-declared minimum wages for them.
Benapole Port-handling Workers' Union President Jahangir Hossain Lal said they had earlier demanded implementation of the governmentdeclared minimum wage before the appointment of four new contractors, but the port authorities did not pay heed to the demand.
Tenure of the old contractors ended on May 31.
The labour union chief said the strike will continue until the demand is met by the port authorities.
The four contractors engaged by the port authorities for appointing workers are Logistical Systems, Hosne Ara, Khalid & Brothers and Drob Communications.
Abul Kalam Azad, director of Benapole port termed the strike illegal. He said, “The port authorities and contractor have signed an agreement for handling goods. As per the agreement, the contractors get their payment regularly to clear the workers' monthly wages.”
But the workers enforced the strike without any negotiation with the contractors, bringing one-sided allegation against the port authorities,” he added.
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