Anger over worker’s wages and safety at the May Day rally in Barisal
Photo Collected
On the occasion of International Labor Day and Great May Day, the Socialist Workers Front held a labor rally and red flag procession in Barisal. The program was celebrated in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall on Sadar Road in the city on Friday afternoon.
Manisha Chakraborty, coordinator of Barisal district branch of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Basad) said in the rally, after the July mass coup, the workers of the country hoped that the interim government formed through the July mass coup drenched in the blood of thousands of workers would work for the interests of the workers. But after August 5, there was a crackdown on the labor movement by the government, which was a complete betrayal of the spirit of the coup.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Manisha Chakraborty said that the government that was formed after the 13th National Assembly elections, they also did not take any initiative regarding the fair wages of the workers and the safety of the workplace. In the name of modernization, they have already taken an anti-worker stance by evicting hawkers, evicting battery-powered vehicles without rehabilitation.
Commenting on the interim government hastily signed the slave trade agreement with the United States, Manisha Chakraborty said that the elected BNP government has not taken any initiative to cancel this agreement. On the contrary, Boeing has started buying aircraft from the US since yesterday. This slave trade agreement will destroy the country’s industry, endangering the workers. Therefore, this anti-national agreement should be canceled immediately. Otherwise, the government will be forced to cancel the agreement through street agitation.
বিজ্ঞাপন
In the meeting chaired by acting president of Barisal district branch of Sramik Front, Dulal Mallik, member secretary of Busder Uzirpur upazila branch Manjur Morshed, office secretary of Barisal district branch of Samajtantrik Sramik Front Shahidul Howladar, sports secretary Gazi Bellal Hossain, organizing secretary of Barisal Rickshaw-Van Driver-Labor Union Shahidul, president of SL Pharma Ltd. Labor Union Mizanur. Rahman, Refco Pharmaceuticals Limited Labor Union President Abdul Majeed Howladar, Olympic Cement and Fiber Limited Labor Union President Salim Sardar, Padma Blowing Limited Labor Union President Jasim Gazi, Khan Sons Textile Limited Labor Union President Mozammel Hossain, Sonargaon Textile Mills Limited Union President Masum Gazi, Indo-Bangla Pharmaceuticals Limited Sangram Labor Council Vice President Jasim Hossain, General Secretary of Global Capsule Limited Sramik Union Zahidul Islam, General Secretary of Barisal Sadar Steel and Engineering Workshop Sramik Union Kabir Hossain Howladar and others gave speeches.
Speakers in the rally said that only 15 percent of the 73.4 million labor force is engaged in formal work. All over the country, including Barisal, these workers do not get living wages. In almost all factories, workers work for 10 to 12 hours, but overtime is not given, identity cards and employment cards are not given. The government has no responsibility for, and no plan to take responsibility for, the workers engaged in the informal sector. Till date, not even 1 percent has been allocated in the budget for the Ministry of Labor and Employment. May Day has passed 140 years ago, but the spirit of May Day is still largely intact. For this reason, workers have to fight for fair wages and free trade union rights in all factories.
0%
0%
0%
0%
