Workers’ union urges hotel owners to stop firing staff

Workers of hotels and restaurants have demanded an end to labour law violations, including physical assault and removal from jobs using the excuse of a slowdown in business due to Covid-19.

Under the banner of the Bangladesh Hotel, Restaurant, Sweetmeat, and Bakery Workers' Union, they staged a human chain and protest rally in front of the National Press Club on Saturday to press home their demands.

Akhteruzzaman, president of the platform, said hotel workers have been staging movements at different times to implement the labour law. During the shutdown, they wrote to many departments of the government to take steps ensuring owners of hotels and restaurants, including star hotels, pay their staff members' wages and not fire them from their jobs.

"We did not find a solution even after submitting a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office. So, we were compelled to stage this demonstration," he added.

Leaders of the organisation threatened that they would go for a non-stop movement if their demands were not met.

At present, the business of hotels and restaurants is better but they are still downsizing their staff, workers alleged.

They also said hotel owners are firing their workers without paying their due arrears and overtime. 

Khalilur Rahman Khalil, vice-president of Bangladesh Trade Union Sangha, leader of the organisation Prakash Dutta and workers of star hotels and restaurants attended the demonstration.