Jute mills workers called off their ongoing fast-unto-death programme on Thursday night after the government assured them of paying the dues within the next 15 days through pay slips as per the National Pay Scale-2015.
Leaders of the jute mill workers made the announcement after a meeting with textiles and jute minister Golam Dastagir Gazi at the Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC) in the capital.
During the meeting with the Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) and non-CBA Sangram Parishad, the minister assured them of clearing the workers’ dues within the 15 days through pay slips.
State minister for labour and employment Monnujan Sufian, labour secretary K M Ali Azam and textiles and jute secretary Lokman Hossain Mia were present at the meeting.
Earlier in the day, UNB reported, 54 workers of the state-owned jute mills in Khulna, Jashore and Rajshahi fell sick on the fifth day of their fast-unto-death programme.
About 50,000 workers of nine state-owned jute mills -- Star, Platinum, Crescent, Alim, Eastern, Daulatpur and Khalishpur jute mills in Khulna and JJI and Carpeting jute mills in Jashore -- started the fast-unto-death from December 29 to press for their 11 demands, including implementation of the wage commission and payment of regular wages.
From December 10 to 13, they had also gone on a work abstention and observed fast-unto-death to push for their demands.
