Advocate Atiqur Rahman, the Central General Secretary of the Bangladesh Sramik Kalyan Federation, claimed that numerous issues affect the nation’s workers. Nobody raises their hand to voice their concerns. To solve their issues, the union leaders must be protestants. All union actions, including meetings and marches, should be used to address labor issues.
He said these things in the speech of the chief guest at the Eid reunion organized by Madhavpur Upazila Nirman Sramik Union and Madhavpur Upazila Rickshaw, Van, and Wheelbarrow Sramik Union belonging to Bangladesh Sramik Kalyan Federation Habiganj district today. District President Kazi Abdur Rauf Bahar presided over the meeting, and Madhavpur Upazila Nirman Sramik Union General Secretary Asaduzzaman Reza moderated it. President of Madhavpur Upazila Nirman Sramik Union Md Naibullah, President of Madhavpur Upazila Rickshaw, Van and Wheelbarrow Workers Union Md Iqbal Hossain General Secretary Nazmul Hasan and others attended.
Atiqur Rahman said that two-thirds of the total population of the country are laborers. Laborers are engaged in various occupations. Although labor laws allow workers of various professions to form trade unions, they have to face various obstacles to registering in trade unions. Although construction laborers are allowed to form trade unions, the Labor Act does not say anything about their privileges or rights. As a result, construction workers are plagued with many problems, but there is no policy to solve these problems on paper. There are various obstacles to forming a trade union, even in the professions where labor law allows it. Employers do not want trade unions to be established in their factories. Employers often dismiss workers who take the initiative to form a union under various pretexts. As a result, laborers are unwilling to form a trade union to make a living. In the absence of a trade union, the employers pay the labor as they wish. Labor cannot speak up to demand their fair wages and other benefits. They have to endure everything silently.
He also said that the trade union is the platform for workers’ rights. The trade union leaders should use this platform to solve the problems of the labor force as well as continue the protests and fight for the fair rights of the labor force. It should not be forgotten that in this society, no one gives anyone’s rights by themselves. If necessary, labor’s desired rights should be established by breaking the owners’ unfair and unjust conditions through strong protests and street fights. At the same time, the trade unions should be united to establish a fair and ideal labor policy.
