Highway blockade by pharmaceuticals workers in Sreepur

The workers of Zenfer Pharmaceuticals Bangladesh Limited factory in Sreepur, Gazipur have staged a strike, protest and blocked the highway to demand 13 points, including the resignation of the Assistant General Manager (AGM) of the Human Resource Department. On Saturday (August 31), the workers of that factory in Nayanpur area of ​​the upazila held these programs from morning to 3 pm.

Protesting workers Shakil, Mehdul, Enayet and Nuruzzaman said that the factory does not comply with the labor laws announced by the government. Assistant General Manager (AGM) of Human Resource Department Azizullah Abed has been misbehaving, verbally abusing workers, poor food quality and salary discrimination for a long time. They have been telling these demands to the authorities for a long time but they have been assuring to accept their demands. Factory authorities are not taking any action even though we have been raising our logical demands for almost a year. On the contrary it is deceiving us with false promises.

Their 13-point demands are that the minimum salary of the workers should be Rs 20,500, increase the salary of the old workers along with the salary, make the new temporary workers permanent within 06 months, make other temporary workers permanent within 15 days, lay off those who are associated with the rational demanders. or can't be expelled and he can't be harassed in any way, two days of weekly leave should be enforced, night allowance should be 300 taka, attendance bonus of 1000 taka should be ensured for all workers, 100% of the accrued leave should be paid according to salary, Minimum 20% annual salary increase, 6 months maternity leave and salary allowance to temporary women workers in line with permanent women workers, workers to form labor unions through direct secret ballot, every permanent worker completes 20 years of factory On the part of the authorities, they should be sent for Hajj, if any worker is injured while working, he should bear all the medical expenses until full recovery, medical leave should be ensured for all the temporary workers.

The agitating workers also said that they were peacefully protesting in front of the main gate of the factory from 7 am to 12 pm (05 hours) on these demands. Later General Manager (GM) of Factory Quality Department Dulal took us inside at 12 noon assuring us that the authorities would accept our demands. After sitting for two hours did not talk to us about accepting the claim. Later, from 2 pm to 3 pm, we stayed at Nayanpur area of ​​Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and continued to protest on 13-point demand. Later, Sreepur Thana police came to the spot and discussed with the authorities, but the blockade was not lifted from Amara highway.

Quality Department General Manager (GM) Dulal said, I have discussed with the workers. The representatives of the owners will actually discuss and decide on their claims. I have contacted the higher authority over the phone to accept the demands of the workers.

Abdul Latif, in-charge of Gazipur Industrial Police, said that after receiving information about the workers' protest, the police reached the spot and tried to bring the situation under control by explaining to the protesting workers. We request the factory authorities to resolve their demands as soon as possible.