Demand for higher wages

Staff Correspondent

Water transport workers called off a nationwide wildcat strike Saturday, after hours of a deadlock that disrupted river traffic, said a labour leader.

Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation went on strike Thursday night demanding higher wages, which suspended public transports on major river routes.
 
"Workers and employees have pulled back from the strike after a tripartite meeting among the government, launch owners and labour leaders at BIWTA Bhaban," BWTWF vice-president Shah Alam told bdnews24.com.
 
No launches left Dhaka, Barisal, Chandpur, Bhola, Barguna and Patuakhali Saturday morning.
 
The meeting chaired by labour and employment secretary Mahfuzul Haque decided that the workers and employees would be paid interim allowances.
 
A committee has been formed to fix the amount of the allowances.
 
The government has formed another committee to reset wages for launch workers and employees. The committee has been given three months' time to complete its assignment.
 
New wages will be effective from July 1, Shah Alam said.
 
On Friday, launch owners and workers had a five-hour meeting on the strike, with no result.
 
Alam said the prices of essentials had doubled and tripled in recent years but the water transport workers have not seen any commensurable pay rises, still surviving on a meagre monthly wage of Tk 1,900.

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