Water transport workers go on strike for wage increase

Water transport workers started a strike across the country from Saturday midnight to press home their demands, including an increase in wages.

Noujan Sramik Sangram Parishad called the strike.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority officials said no launch left Dhaka's Sadarghat and cargo services remained suspended since Sunday morning due to the strike.

Water transport leaders said there is a provision for declaring a new wage structure every five years.

Tenure of the last salary structure ended on June 30 last year but the water transport owners' associations did not take it into account, they said.

They went to different places, including the Shipping Ministry, and the Labor Department, seeking measures in this regard but to no avail, they added.

The workers also said they are now leading a miserable life with families amid the commodity prices hike in phases as their wages were not increased.

Convener of Noujan Sramik Sangram Parishad Md Khalilur Rahman told Jago News their strike is underway since Saturday midnight to press home a 10-point demand.

He also said they talked to the water transport owners and the government, and they can inform about their next steps later.

Their demands include fixing the minimum wage at Tk 20,000, issuing landing passes for the workers going to India, relaxing the ban on the movement of bulkheads at night, and Tk 10 lakh compensation in case of workers' death at workplace or in accident.

RMM/SU