Acting President of Bangladesh Sramik Kalyan Federation Professor Harunur Rashid Khan said that about 90 percent of the labor force of the country works in the informal sector. There are several benefits for workers in the institutional sector, including the Workers’ Welfare Fund. However, not all workers get that benefit. On the other hand, the wages of workers in the informal sector are not fixed. The life of workers in this sector is very unsafe.
He said these things during an exchange of views with the leaders of the furniture sector organized by the furniture sector of the Bangladesh Sramik Kalyan Federation on July 20 (Thursday). Sector President Professor Abdul Matin presided over the meeting, and Central Trade Union Secretary Sohel Rana Mithu moderated it. The special guest speaker was advocate Atiqur Rahman. Federation organizing secretary Aktaruzzaman, and furniture sector leader Farooq Ahmed attended.
Professor Harunur Rashid Khan said that workers in the informal sector have no recognition, even though they make important contributions to the country’s economy. The government has no focus on the informal sector. As a result, this sector and the workers engaged in it are deprived of all their just rights. Labor laws are not followed in the informal sector. There is no minimum wage. Salaries and allowances for workers in this sector are irregular. If they make a fair demand, they are threatened with beatings. Only because they are unorganized are the workers willingly bearing all the oppression.
He further said that the furniture sector is an important part of the informal sector. Many workers work in this sector. Those who are deprived of all the benefits of labor law These workers should be brought into the mainstream of society. First of all, they have to be organized. The workers in this sector have to sit with the owners to meet their demands. Durbar’s movement should be developed to form the same wage structure across the country.
Advocate Atiqur Rahman said that informal sector workers are victims of exploitation. The owner does not prosper by exploiting the workers. Instead, the owner suffers. For the sake of the owner and the sake of the country, all exploitation of the workers must be stopped. Workers must unite to stop all forms of exploitation and oppression. If the workers are united, it will be possible to realize all their rights.
