Workers from nine state-owned jute mills in the Khulna and Jessore divisions have taken to the streets once again for an implementation of a wage commission, due wages and six other demands.
They will continue with the movement on the highway until their demands are met and have announced the continuation of the movement till October 5.
Md Sohrab Hossain, central member secretary of the Bangladesh Jute Mill CBA and non CBA coordination council, declared the 16 day program at a meeting held between the labour leaders on August 5.
Also read- Workers of 9 jute mills to take to the streets on Sep 9
On August 8, the labour leaders had a meeting with state minister of Jute and BJMC chairman in Dhaka.
At the meeting, the leaders recommended the implementation of their 6-point demand including the setting up of the Wage Commission, clearing pending wages and cancelling the National Tax Bill-2014.
Workers from Crescent, Platinum Jubilee, Khalishpur, Daulatpur, Star, Alim, and Eastern Jute Mills along with Jessore Jute Industries organized a procession/protest rally around 10:30am on Thursday.
Md Sohrab Hossain said, a memorandum of their demands will be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner on September 16 and on the 18th a red flag rally will take place.
A stick procession (Lathi Micheel) will take place on September 20. Workers' rally in Narsingdi and Khalishpur will take place at the same time on September 21 and on the 22nd, a labour protest and gate meeting in front of Bangladesh Jute Mills will take place.
On September 23, meeting of jute mill labour leaders across the country will take place at the Hafiz Jute Mills. On the 24th, same program at the Amin Jute Mills.
A coffin procession will take the streets on September 27 and on the 30th and October 2, there will be highway and railroad blockade from 8am to 2pm.
On October 5, workers’ rally will take place at the Peoples’ Circle and from there the announcement of next schedule will be made.
Senior labourer Abdul Malek said that he has been a worker of the Crescent Jute Mills for the last 30 years. He could not remember the time when he got regular wages.
Khalilur Rahman, worker of the Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills, demanded the implementation of the wage commission immediately.
