Prime mover-trailer workers go on work abstention, disrupt port activities
Transportation of containers between private depots and the Chattogram Sea Port remains completely halted
Workers of prime movers and trailers started work abstention on Saturday morning to press home their five-point demands including implementation of the minimum wage announced by the government.
Transportation of containers between private depots and the Chattogram Sea Port has remained completely halted due to the work abstention called by the workers at 9 am on the day.
After the announcement of the programme, workers' leaders held a meeting with the administration to resolve the crisis. As no solution came in the meeting, the workers are continuing their protest programme.
President of Prime Mover-Trailer Sramik Union, Main Uddin told The Business Standard, "We started work abstention from 9 am today to press home our five-point charter of demands. We are continuing our programme, the meeting held under the supervision of the superintendent of police of the Faujdarhat circle could not yield any solution."
"Every day, around 7,000 prime movers carry goods-laden containers from the Chattogram port to various parts of the country. About 14,000 workers are involved in this activity," he added.
Main Uddin also said, "Though various movement programmes were held at different times to meet the demands of the workers, owners did not fulfill those demands."
Apart from the implementation of minimum wage, the other four demands of the workers include issuance of appointment letters to workers as per the Labour Law, refunding of money illegally deducted by the BSRM, refraining from work without any prior notice and restoring the 23 prime mover drivers, who were sacked by the BSRM, to their job.
Omar Faruk, secretary of the Chattogram Port Authority, said, "We've come to know that prime mover workers are on strike. They are not transporting container goods from the port. However, the loading and unloading of containers into and from ships are going on as usual."