Ctg port labourers' reinstatement process begins amid opposition
Friday, 29 January 2010
Jasim Uddin Haroon
The Chittagong port authorities has started medical check-up of the axed labourers for reinstating them in their earlier positions, which the berth operators termed a 'threat' to smooth port operations.
Around 3,000 port workers including stevedore, merchant and dock labourers were sacked during the regime of the immediate past caretaker government saying they were the surplus work force.
The caretaker-government also scrapped the dock management board, which used to look after the interest of the dock labourers.
But the berth operators absorbed the physically-fit of them during the very regime of the caretaker government.
"We've started medical check-up of the sacked workers as per government directives," said Omar Faruk, a senior personnel officer of Chittagong port and member of a committee formed for examining physical fitness of the workers.
Earlier in October and December two ministers - shipping and labour, and manpower-had two separate meetings with the port labour leaders in Dhaka on reappointing the sacked workers.
The shipping minister in a meeting in Chittagong pledged to the labour leaders reinstatement of the sacked labourers in their earlier positions as they had called at least three agitation programmes including strikes at Chittagong port during the last one year.
Senior port officials said the physical fitness examination of the workers will continue until February 2.
However berth operators said the move for reappointment of the workers is a threat for the port operation as most of them are loyal to political parties.
"There were surplus at the port and they used to remain absent most of the time," said a berth operator.
The Chittagong port authorities has started medical check-up of the axed labourers for reinstating them in their earlier positions, which the berth operators termed a 'threat' to smooth port operations.
Around 3,000 port workers including stevedore, merchant and dock labourers were sacked during the regime of the immediate past caretaker government saying they were the surplus work force.
The caretaker-government also scrapped the dock management board, which used to look after the interest of the dock labourers.
But the berth operators absorbed the physically-fit of them during the very regime of the caretaker government.
"We've started medical check-up of the sacked workers as per government directives," said Omar Faruk, a senior personnel officer of Chittagong port and member of a committee formed for examining physical fitness of the workers.
Earlier in October and December two ministers - shipping and labour, and manpower-had two separate meetings with the port labour leaders in Dhaka on reappointing the sacked workers.
The shipping minister in a meeting in Chittagong pledged to the labour leaders reinstatement of the sacked labourers in their earlier positions as they had called at least three agitation programmes including strikes at Chittagong port during the last one year.
Senior port officials said the physical fitness examination of the workers will continue until February 2.
However berth operators said the move for reappointment of the workers is a threat for the port operation as most of them are loyal to political parties.
"There were surplus at the port and they used to remain absent most of the time," said a berth operator.