Demand for Minimum Wages
Benapole port workers to go on strike Saturday
Benapole Port Handling Workers Union will go on an indefinite strike from Saturday, demanding implementation of the government-declared minimum wages for the workers.
Earlier, the workers union had called the strike from September 12 to realise their demand.
"But we have changed the schedule and decided to go for the indefinite strike from September 15 as other five local organisations, including C&F agents association, transport owners' association and truck owners' association, expressed their solidarity with us", said union president Golam Mostafa.
Leaders of the union on September 4 at a press conference announced that unloading of all kinds of goods at the port will remain stopped during the strike.
Golam Mostafa said, the workers were paid Tk 13 as wage for unloading of per ton goods by four contracting firms last month, though they were insisting for more than Tk 18 a ton.
The workers observed a four-day-long strike at the port from June 1 to realise the demand. The strike was later withdrawn following an intervention by the shipping minister.
Sources said, about 80 percent raw materials for the country's garment sector are imported through Benapole Land Port.
Meanwhile, Benapole Land Port director Abdul Awal said the higher authorities were discussing the demand of the workers.
He, however, termed the indefinite strike called by the port workers as illogical.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments