The jute mill workers who have been on a hunger strike for five days have called off their protest after a meeting with the Ministry of Textile and Jute.
Joint Convener of Jute Mill Sangram Parishad Shahana Sharmin confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune around 10:15pm Thursday night.
CBA and non-CBA Oikya Parishad President Abdul Hamid also said: "Textile and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi has told us that the wage commission will be implemented and pay slip according to the new pay scale will be given to the workers in 15 days."
Hamid said they decided to call off the strike after the minister assured them that the commission will take retrospective effect from 2015, when it was passed, and the workers would be paid all of their dues.
Leaders of jute mill workers had started the meeting in Dhaka on Thursday evening after the jute minister took the initiative, said Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation Chairman Md Abdur Rauf.
Upon receiving a letter from the ministry, CBA (collective bargaining agents) and non-CBA Sangram Parishad leaders arrived in Dhaka for the meeting, he further added.
About 50,000 workers of Star, Platinum, Crescent, Alim, Eastern, Daulatpur and Khalishpur jute mills in Khulna, and JJI and Carpeting jute mills in Jessore started a hunger strike on December 29 to press home their 11-point demand, including implementation of the wage commission and payment of regular wages.
Their’ demands also include cancellation of public-private ownership of jute mills and allotment of necessary fund for jute sector.
At least 148 workers in Khulna, Jessore and Rajshahi fell sick as their fast-unto-death reached its fifth day on Thursday.
Workers of the state-owned jute mills had earlier gone on work abstention and observed fast-unto-death on December 10-13.
Abdus Sattar, 55, a worker of Platinum Jute Mills, died at Khulna Medical College Hospital on December 12, during that strike. The workers postponed their strike until December 17 upon government assurance.
