Employees of mobile phone operator Grameenphone held a demonstration in Dhaka on Monday demanding a payment they are entitled to get under profit sharing rule.
They alleged the authorities have not paid yet 5% of profit made during the 2010-2012 period and sought time again in the court to disburse the share of profit.
The demonstrators warned that if the demand is not met by December 16, they will start holding sit-in in front of the GP House, Grameenphone’s head office, in the capital.
The employees brought out a protest rally and chanted slogans against senior executives.
Sources said the demonstration began with presence of 8-10 people before the office of chief human resources officer Kazi Mohammed Shahed on third level of GP House building in the capital’s Baridhara. Though it started with little presence, the number gradually increased to 150-200.
As per the labour law, the mobile phone operators are required to share 5% of their profits with the employees.
Kazi Mohammed Shahed tried to soothe the agitating employees as he told them that he could not take any decision on the matter without consult with chief executive officer. But the new CEO Rajeev Sethi will join on December 13, he said.
Such reply could not satisfy the employees who decided to continue their programme.
According to the labour law, the operator is required to share Tk53.55 crore with employees for the year 2010, Tk94.45 crore for 2011 and Tk87.5 crore with employees for 2012.
However, the mobile phone company shared 5% of revenue earnings with its employees after three years of hearing in the court.
Sources said Grameenphone’s lawyer Barrister Rokonuddin Mahmoud didn’t attend the court hearing held on Monday and another lawyer Advocate Azmalul Haque QC was present to seek time. Before that the operator filed three such petitions to pay share of profit to employees.
The employees found the repeated seeking of time was in bad motive and an effort to deliberately delay the payment process.
The demonstrating staff urged the operator’s management to comply with their previous commitment and interim court order on the matter.
A senior official of Grameenphone Employees’ Union (GPEU) said the management is not only delaying the profit sharing but also making regular cuts in benefits of employees.
GPEU urged all the employees to join the sit-in on December 17 to ensure their rights.
