Reconstitution of Tannery workers’ minimum wage board demanded
Staff Reporter :
Leaders of the Tannery Workers Union (TWU) on Thursday demanded the reconstitution of the newly formed tannery workers’ minimum wage board due to inadequate trade union representation, raising concerns about the protection of workers’ rights and the role of trade unions.
These demands were articulated during a collaborative discussion between the TWU and the Bangladesh Labour Rights Journalists Forum (BLRF), held in the Bangladesh Child Welfare Council auditorium in the capital city.
The attendees included Justice Md Nizamul Haque Nasim as the Chief Guest, TWU General Secretary Abdul Malek, Deputy Country Programme Director of Solidarity Center Bangladesh Monika Hartsell, Solidarity’s Country Programme Director Adv AKM Nasim, BLRF President Kazi Abdul Hannan, who presided over the meeting, and its General Secretary Ataur Rahman, who moderated the event.
During his address, Abdul Malek stated, “The previous minimum wage board commission was constituted in 2018, but its decisions couldn’t be implemented.
Recently, a new board has been formed, but it lacks adequate representation from collective bargaining agents (CBA) or labour representatives.”
“While one individual has been appointed to represent labor on the board, we have reservations about his experience in the tannery sector.
We doubt this person’s ability to effectively safeguard workers’ rights.
Therefore, we call for a reconstitution of the board with meaningful inclusion of labour representatives,” he said.
Emphasising the potential of the tannery sector and shedding light on the challenges faced by workers regarding their rights and safety, he remarked, “Tannery workers work in a perilous environment, dealing with over 100 chemicals, some of which are harmful to their health. Shockingly, they lack essential safety equipment.
Moreover, in the new tannery estate located in Savar, there is no hospital facility available, leaving the workers without immediate medical assistance even in case of injuries.”
As a result of the absence of housing facilities in the new estate, workers have to commute from distant areas of Dhaka, which consumes over five hours of their day for an eight-hour job, he pointed out.
He also mentioned that tannery owners and workers have contracts every two years, but these agreements often go unfulfilled.
“Owners are hiring contract workers, which is causing the sector to become informal and negatively impacting the quality of leather produced by these workers. This practice should be halted,” he said.
The TWU General Secretary clarified that their stance is not against the tannery sector or its owners.
Instead, they advocate for a thriving tannery industry achieved through the adherence to compliance standards and the proper protection of workers’ rights in accordance with rules and regulations.
Justice Md Nizamul Haque Nasim emphasised the need for the enhancement of tannery workplace and upgrading the factory environment.
He stressed the importance of tannery owners fulfilling their agreements with workers.
Additionally, he called for labour courts to be more worker-friendly and for expedited resolution of cases in the best interest of all parties involved.
Monika Hartsell said that right to trade union in workplace and free press are crucial for vibrant democracy.
AKM Nasim stated, “The absence of TWU representation in the wage board raises concerns about the board’s legitimacy. It is imperative to reconstitute the board.”
Regarding contractual appointments, he noted, “Contractual employment is a reality.
However, if third parties handle these appointments, it is essential that these contractors be registered with the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE). This registration will introduce discipline within the sector.”
He also expressed concerns about the ineffectiveness of the Safety Committee in identifying factory defects.
He emphasised that if the committee were functioning properly, it could help address safety issues for workers.
