River vessel workers withdraw strike

River vessel workers, who have been enforcing a strike from April 20 to press home their demand to review the minimum wages in the sector, have decided to withdraw upon assurances from the government of meeting their demands. President of Bangladesh River Vessel Workers’ Federation Shah Alam told UNB yesterday night that the Federation has called off the strike after a fruitful meeting with  Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan and representatives of the river vessel owners and workers. The meeting began at the Secretariat at 1:30pm and ended at 10:00pm. Shah Alam said the workers decided to withdraw the strike as the government assured them of meeting the demands, including reviewing the wages structure by May 10. The government has already formed a committee to finalise the new minimum wages – keeping the highest wage at Tk 10,000 and lowest at Tk 9,000 – for three classes of workers in the sector. Two days after its enforcement, the vessel strike was partially postponed on Friday night. The workers decided to run only passenger-carrying vessels until May 10 following assurances from the government.

 

River vessel workers withdraw strike

River vessel workers, who have been enforcing a strike from April 20 to press home their demand to review the minimum wages in the sector, have decided to withdraw upon assurances from the government of meeting their demands. President of Bangladesh River Vessel Workers Federation Shah Alam told UNB yesterday night that the Federation has called off the strike after a fruitful meeting with Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan and representatives of the river vessel owners and workers. The meeting began at the Secretariat at 1:30pm and ended at 10:00pm. Shah Alam said the workers decided to withdraw the strike as the government assured them of meeting the demands, including reviewing the wages structure by May 10. The government has already formed a committee to finalise the new minimum wages keeping the highest wage at Tk 10,000 and lowest at Tk 9,000 for three classes of workers in the sector. Two days after its enforcement, the vessel strike was partially postponed on Friday night. The workers decided to run only passenger-carrying vessels until May 10 following assurances from the government.