Leaders of Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation (BNSF) suspended on Wednesday their work abstention programme for 45 days.
The labour rights organisation decided to put off the strike following a fruitful tripartite meeting between the government, vessel owners and labour leaders at the department of labour in the capital.
After the meeting, State Minister for Labour Munnujan Sufian told the media that the government will consider resolving their 11-point demand within next 45 days.
She said the facilities (different types of allowances and other benefits) the vessel workers have been enjoying will continue on humanitarian grounds.
President of BNSF Shah Alam Bhuiyan, its general secretary Ashiqul Alam Chowdhury, vessel owners and high officials concerned were present at the meeting.
BNSF leaders placed their 11-point demand at the meeting.
Water transport workers started their indefinite strike across the country from Tuesday to press home their 11-point demand.
The government, river vessel owners and BNSF leaders also agreed to implement 11-point demand during a meeting held in September last year.
The demands include checking illegal toll collection and stopping violence on all river routes, full implementation of new pay scale (2016), issuing landing pass and stopping harassment of workers on India-bound local river vessels/ships, providing food allowance for them by river vessel/ship owners, re-fixation of technical allowances, paying compensation of Tk 1 million to workers in case of death while on duty, providing appointment letters, identity cards and service books for them by owners.
Besides, they placed demands for ensuring their social security and smooth navigability on river routes, stopping harassment by department of shipping and providing sea allowance for workers at Chattogram, Mongla and Payra ports.
All passenger launches and goods-laden vessels started operating from Dhaka River Port Terminal at Sadarghat in the city on Wednesday.
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