Tea workers resume strike for Tk 300 wage

Disobeying the decision of the leaders of Bangladesh Tea Workers Union, the tea garden workers in Moulvibazar resumed strike on Tuesday noon.

Most of the workers in different upazilas joined work Monday morning upon assurance from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to settle the issue. Later, a group of workers brought out a procession abstaining from work at noon for raising their wage to Tk 300 from Tk 120, reports UNB.

Workers said that they didn’t see or hear PM’s directive regarding wage hike on television. “The leaders are asking us to join work in the name of the Prime Minister,” said a tea worker.

Besides, the workers in Lachna area of Sreemangal demonstrated on Dhaka-Moulvibazar road in front of Sreemangal Labor House and in various tea gardens including Maulvi tea garden in Samsher Nagar and Kamalganj upazilas.

Dilip Bhuiya a worker of Sreemangal Khaichra tea garden, said they will not return to work until PM’s announcement on fixing daily wage at Tk 300.

On Sunday night, an emergency meeting was held between the tea worker leaders and Moulvibazar district administration, apparently on the instructions from the Prime Minister to resolve the current situation.

After the meeting led by Moulvibazar Deputy Commissioner Mir Nahid Hasan, a joint statement signed by both parties on five conditions was issued.

According to the written statement, Bangladesh Tea Workers Union reg No-B 77 would "withdraw their strike and join work from Monday, keeping faith and trust on the prime minister".

Regarding the wage, it mentioned the workers will resume work at the current daily wage of Tk 120 for the time being.