Workers Party says the planned changes to the Labour Act overlook the demands of the workers because these are influenced by the owners.
Its President Rashed Khan Menon expressed the concern at a meeting at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity organised by the Bangladesh committee of World Federation of Trade Union (WFTU) on Friday.
The draft Bill of the amended Act was sent to the parliamentary committee for further scrutiny after Labour Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju placed it in Parliament on June 5. The committee has decided to take opinions from the people related to the issue.
Later a mass hearing was held on June 13 on the proposed amendment.
Menon on Friday said, “There is no reason to think that the Act has reflected the demands raised by the workers or people related to the labour movement.”
“It’s bad luck that there are no workers-friendly people in our Parliament. Workers have to hit the streets to press for their demands. They will have to make the government meet the demands,” added the chief of the party which is member of the ruling coalition.
Justice Syed Amirul Islam, who chaired the meeting, echoed Menon’s concern.
He, however, also criticised the organisations of the workers. “The workers organisations’ also failed to take a firm stance against the Labour Act, which was formulated in 2006.”
“The trade unions in the country are always pandering to the political parties. They are always looking out for the two major political parties instead of the workers.”
Justice Islam urged the organisations to look after the interest of the workers.
WFTU Bangladesh committee’s Convenor Wazedul Islam Khan read the main article in the roundtable. He also said the amended labour law was ‘against the interest of the workers’.
Source: Bd news24
