In a strong display of solidarity, tannery workers in the Savar upazila of the capital staged a work stoppage and protest on Saturday morning. The workers gathered in front of several factories within the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) leather industrial city, located in the Hemayetpur area under Savar.
This protest, which took place from 8 AM to 11 AM, was led by the Tannery Workers’ Union and aimed at demanding the immediate implementation of the government-declared minimum wage along with a five-grade wage system.
The workers expressed frustration over the delay in enforcing the minimum wage for tannery employees, a policy that has already been implemented in several other sectors. Despite being declared by the government, the minimum wage for the tannery sector has yet to be enforced.
The protestors accused factory owners of using various excuses to delay the process, prompting them to take to the streets in an effort to push for their rights.
Among the key demands made by the workers were the immediate implementation of the minimum wage, an end to the illegal contracting practices that involve middlemen, and the abolition of arbitrary termination and dismissal of long-term workers.
The workers also called for better healthcare facilities, including the establishment of a 50-bed hospital specifically for workers, as well as low-cost canteens and housing facilities to improve their living conditions.
Furthermore, the protestors demanded that the welfare benefits for workers be improved, including proper facilities for female employees, and the guarantee of workers’ right to form trade unions, in line with International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98.
Additionally, they called for better solid and liquid waste management in the tannery industry, alongside assurances of social compliance.
The protest had a significant impact on the production in the leather industrial city’s factories, which were halted since the morning due to the work stoppage.
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