Demanding minimum wage, tannery workers continue protests at Savar
Despite continued demonstrations, workers claimed that tannery owners are yet to respond positively to their demands
Tannery workers in the Savar Leather Industrial City observed a two-hour work stoppage and staged protests this morning (30 January), demanding the immediate implementation of the government-declared minimum wage structure across five grades in the sector.
For the third consecutive day, workers gathered at key points in the industrial zone under the banner of the Tannery Workers' Union, enforcing the work stoppage from 10am to 12pm.
Despite continued demonstrations, workers claimed that tannery owners had yet to respond positively to their demands.
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"We have been protesting relentlessly for our rightful demands, but the owners have not shown any positive response. If our demands are not met, we will be forced to announce tougher programmes," a protesting worker from Apex Tannery told The Business Standard.
Another worker, Nazrul, questioned the owners' stance, "Can anyone run a household with the current wages? Do the owners not realise this?
"They themselves proposed the minimum wage, yet they are not implementing it. We will continue our protests until our demands are met."
Protesting workers further alleged that while other sectors implement minimum wages immediately after government declarations, the tannery sector remains an exception.
Although, as per law, the revised wages should have taken effect upon gazette publication, this has not happened, they said.
