‘Implement Nat’l Plan of Action to save tannery industry’

Staff Reporter :
Tannery Workers Union (TWU) on Tuesday demanded immediate implementation of the recommendations of the government approved National Plan of Action (NPA) including social compliances for the survival of the tanner industry.
They have also demanded for the effective implementation of the workers’ minimum wages including a five percent hike to allow the workers to lead a decent life.
The demands were placed in a press conference in the Jatiya Press Club in the capital. Abul Kalam Azad, President of Tannery Workers Union read out the demands.
He also urged the owners of the tannery industries to stop outsourcing of manpower for the sector as it was against the law.
“We call upon the owners of the tannery industries to stop outsourcing of manpower. It is against the law. The owners should also stop firing and repression of workers for being members of the Union. The trade union rights have to be ensured as per the ILO conventions 87 and 98,” he said.
Pointing out the workplace safety and security, he said, “The productivity of the industries increase when the health of the workers is well. So it is necessary to ensure workers’ professional health, security, decent work and healthy workplace. A 50-bed hospital must immediately be set up in tannery industry.”
Regarding the insecurity of jobs, he said, “The tanneries which have not issued appointment letters, identity cards, service books and attendance cards should take step about it. The service rules should be followed as per Labour Law.”
Mentioning the tannery as the second largest foreign currency earning sector, the Union President said, “The tannery industry is a promising sector, but still it could not progress much owing to lack of compliances. There are around 200 tannery industries, but these industries did not have full certification by the Leather Working Group (LWP). As a result it is not getting foreign buyers to the expected level.”
Abul Kalam Azad said, that only the setting up of the Central Effluent Treatment Plant cannot ensure the LWP certification, as it requires other compliances as well.
“Around 370 tannery industries in India have LWP certification, while 200 industries in Pakistan obtained it. Bangladesh has only partial certification for three industries. Without this certification, Bangladesh is losing huge potential in foreign markets,” he observed.
He also pointed that the Bangladesh produces a huge amount of leathers during Eid Festival and other seasons, but still leathers are imported.
“Instead of using our locally produced raw hides, a large amount of it is imported. We should find out the reason,” he said.
Among others, President of Bangladesh Trade Union Shahidullah Chowdhury, Chairman of Bangladesh Labour Foundation Abdus Salam Khan and General Secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Dr Wajed-Ul Islam Khan, were present.
The workers’ leaders have urged the owners of the tannery industries and the government to meet the interests of all stakeholders to save the sector from any crisis which will ultimately affect the economy of the country.