The general tea garden workers have rejected government’s decision to Tk 25 daily wage hike and vowed to continue their movement for a Tk 300 daily wage, reports UNB.
Around 8pm on Saturday, the workers blocked the Choumuhona Chattar area at Sreemangal on the road connecting Moulvibazar with Dhaka-Sylhetand staged a rally and demonstrated against the decision to withdraw the strike.
The workers said they will continue their movement till the Prime Minister gives a proper solution to their wage issue.
Many of them refused to go back to work, defying the announcement to call off the strike that came earlier from the Tea Workers Union leaders.
Earlier on Saturday afternoon, after a meeting with the Labour Department, tea workers’ union leaders had withdrawn their indefinite strike after assurance of raising their wages to Tk 145 from Tk 120.
After the meeting at divisional Labour Department office at Sreemangal in Moulvibazar district on Saturday, Nipen Paul, General Secretary of Tea Workers Union, said they have withdrawn the strike after getting assurance from the Prime Minister.
“Our wages will be raised by Tk 25 and the Prime Minister has assured us that she will hold a meeting after her visit to India. In that meeting we will inform her about our demands. From Sunday all workers will resume their work in their respective gardens,” he said.
The general tea garden workers however opposed their announcement immediately and demonstrated in front of the Sreemangal Labour Department office for raising their wage to Tk 300.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
