Impasse in eight state-owned jute mills due to arrear wages

KHULNA, Jan 1: The deadlock condition is continued in 8 state-owned jute mills of Khulna-Jessore region for demanding payment of arrears of wages. The situation was triggered by workers' forced labour since Thursday morning. Jute mill sector is becoming hot in labour unrest. There are many people who are afraid of the unexpected event at any moment.

They stopped the production of mill for the third day since Sunday morning. A protest rally was held on Sunday demanding on 11-point at 10:30 am. The procession brought out to a new BIDC road and ended in self-mill gate. If the demand is not implemented, the workers will be forced to programmes including blocking the road and railways to recover the fair payment of the workers. At present the production of eight state-owned jute mills remained closed except for carpeting jute mills.

According to the sources of jute mills, about 5 thousand workers are in Crescent Jute Mill, 4500 in Platinum, 6500 in Daulatpur Jute Mill, 2 thousand in Eastern, 1500 in Alim, 2600 in JJI Jute Mill and 4,500 workers in Khalishpur Jute Mill. The wages of these jute mills are pending for four to 12 weeks.

Crescent Jute Mills General Secretary Md Sohrab Hossain said the workers have become disheartened without getting wages. So they forced the mills to stop production. There is no decision to pay the dues of the workers till now. The workers will not join the work until the problem is solved. He demanded to pay the wages of the workers immediately.

Bangladesh Jute Mill Corporation (BJMC) Khulna region liaison officer Gazi Shahadat Hossain said that the workers had closed the mills unnecessary.

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