The workers of a shoe factory called Frame House Footwear Limited protested by blocking the highway in Dhaka’s Dhamrai demanding an increase in salary.
Workers blocked the Dhaka-bound lane in Dhamrai Thana Road area of Dhaka-Aricha highway on Saturday (February 10) morning. This caused at least 3-4 kilometers of traffic jam on the highway.
The workers said that the workers are paid Rs 7,100 per month. Due to the rise in commodity prices, it has become difficult for them to lead a normal life on this salary. The workers have been demanding a minimum salary of Tk 12,500. Despite talking to the authorities several times about the matter, they did not accept the demand. Because of this, the workers blocked the highway adjacent to the factory on Saturday.
A laborer named Sarwar Hossain said, we get salary of 7,100 taka. I have made a claim to the owners. They didn’t obey. So I am agitating.
Another worker named Mohammad Ali said that helpers should be paid Rs 12,500 and operators Rs 15,500 and the salary should be paid within 5 days. On this demand, two thousand workers of the factory are marching on the road.
Assistant General Manager (AGM Production) Jamal Basunia said that although the salary increase of garment factory workers has been gazetted, the shoe factory workers have not been gazetted. However, the workers demanded. The authorities are considering giving the salary hike next month. The matter is under process.
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Industrial Police Anwar Hossain Khan said that the shoe factory workers did not get the minimum wages given in garment factories. Therefore, the workers went on strike to demand a similar increase in wages. The owner says that they have not been gazetted. This is basically the movement. They blocked the road around 9 am. However, around 11:30 am they were explained and removed from the road. At present, traffic on the road has been activated.
Mahfuzur Rahman Nipu/FA/ASM
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