Water transport workers withdraw indefinite strike

Staff Reporter :
Water transport workers across the country have called off their strike amid formation of a tripartite committee by the government to fix the pay structure for the workers.
Shipping workers’ leaders announced the withdrawal of the strike following a tripartite meeting held between the government, ship owners and labour leaders on Monday afternoon.
The meeting, chaired by State Minister for Labor and Employment Begum Mannujan Sufian, was held to solve the problems in the shipping sector at Bijoynagar’s Srom Bhaban.
It also decided that the workers of vessels with a capacity of up to 1 tonne will get an allowance of Tk 1,200 from November, according to General Secretary of the Water Transport Workers Council Chowdhury Ashikur Rahman.
He said the workers of vessels with bigger capacity will get an allowance of Tk 1,500.
“A committee has been formed by the government to fix the pay structure for the workers. The committee will sit on Tuesday and complete the work within a month,” he added.
The water transport workers announced the strike on Saturday night to press home their 10-point demand, including setting their minimum wage at Tk 20,000.
Water transport services across the country had come to a standstill following the strike, causing suffering to passengers. About 1.6 million tonnes of goods were stranded in 35 mother vessels and 2,593 lighter vessels at Chattogram port’s outer anchorage.
According to port sources, the unloading and transportation of goods from 22 mother vessels were ongoing before the strike. At the same time, unloading lighterage ships in 18 private docks in Mazhirghat and Sadarghat areas of Karnaphuli river was also stopped.
Traders and shipping agents feel that the decision to hold a sudden strike by the shipping workers has an adverse effect on the country’s economy.
President of Bangladesh Water Transport Workers’ Federation Md Shah Alam announced the withdrawal of strike.
“We (workers) are withdrawing the strike. We have been assured of forming a committee to determine the wage structure of the workers and resolve other issues within a month,” he told reporters.
Workers’ demands includes: 1. The minimum wage of water transport workers should be set at Tk 20,000, 2. Workers going to India should be provided with landing passes, 3. Restrictions on the overnight movement of bulkheads should be relaxed, 4. Cargo transport policies should be fully implemented in Bangladesh ports, 5. Construction of a shelter at Chattogram port and the lease of Charpara Ghat should be cancelled and 6. The ongoing supply of fuel oil through the pipeline from Chattogram port should be stopped.