Bangladeshi jute mill workers call off strike

15 Apr '16

2 min read

Bangladeshi jute mill workers in Khulna have called off their strike after talks with the government.

“They are withdrawing their protests from this moment. They'll return to the factories from the next working day,” a newspaper quoted Mirza Azam, State Minister for Jute, as saying.

The workers have been assured of four-weeks of pay and dearness allowance to be paid before April 25, said Sohrab Hossain, convener of an organisation of state-owned jute mill workers.

“This has prompted us to call off our protests,” he said.

The workers are to return to the factories, he added.

The workers had stayed away from work and blocked roads and railways in Khulna to press their five-point demands since April 5.

On April 11, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina allocated Tk 1000 crore to Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation for clearing the workers' arrears as protests raged.

State Minister Azam then said the funds, once released by the finance ministry, would be used to pay off dues of jute workers in all parts of the country.

But the jute mill workers had refused to withdraw their protests until it was clear how many weeks dues would be paid. (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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