Tannery shifting fails to achieve target TWU demands Tk 25000 wage for workers

Staff Reporter  :
The Tannery Workers’ Union (TWU) has expressed dissatisfaction with the relocation of tanneries from Hazaribag to Hemayetpur and said it did not meet their expectations regarding workers’ rights and environmental protection.

They said they were not against the move, but it could not ensure fair minimum wages and job security of the workers and their livelihood has badly been affected.
During a collaborative consultation meeting between TWU and the Bangladesh Labour Rights Forum (BLRF), supported by Solidarity Center-Bangladesh, the union leaders raised some important to address the prevailing issues.

Among the key demands put forward by the TWU were ensuring a minimum wage of Tk 25,000 per month for tannery workers, robust measures to prevent arbitrary terminations of permanent employees and cessation of contractual appointments facilitated by intermediaries.
The joint consultation meeting, held at the Bangladesh Press Council auditorium in the capital on Wednesday, served as a platform for the TWU and BLRF to raise their concerns. The focus of the gathering was to highlight the critical role of protecting tannery workers and securing their employment rights as essential steps to revitalise and sustain the tannery sector.
The TWU’s call for decent minimum wages and enhanced job security underscores the crucial importance of prioritising the well-being and livelihoods of the workers in this key industry.

“Protection of the tannery workers with a decent minimum wages and job security are imperative to save the tannery sector, the second largest one in term of foreign currency income,” TWU President Abul Kalam Azad said.
“We have demanded the minimum wages of the tannery workers Tk 25,000 and urged the government and other stakeholders to stop the arbitrary termination of permanent workers and contractual appointments by the middlemen,” he said.
He also said that workers union and the workers had expected that the shifting of the tannery to Hemayetpur from Hazaribag would be environment and workers friendly, but the expectation was not fulfilled.

About the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), he said, “We don’t have any previous experience of using the CETP. As a result, it is under capacity and the detrimental liquids are mixing with the water bodies.
“The shifting of tanneries from their previous location was intended to bring about positive changes and enhance the sector’s efficiency. However, due to the limitations faced by BSCIC, the expected benefits have not materialized as anticipated,” he said.
TWU General Secretary Abdul Malek said, “Raw hides play a pivotal role in generating foreign currency earnings. However, the sector’s vibrancy and sustainability are at stake if the rightful entitlements of its workers, who constantly face job insecurity, remain unaddressed.”

He also said that the international brand companies do not come to Bangladesh because most of the tannery owners do not care about the social compliance and environment.
They have also demanded the implementation of the National Action Plan which can fulfill the interest of workers and owners.
BLRF President Kazi Abdul Hannan and its General Secretary Ataur Rahman, among others, also spoke on the occasion.