Mongla: With the direct support of the Mongla Port Authority (MPA), a significant and landmark decision has been taken to ensure the welfare, safety, and socio-economic development of workers employed at Mongla Port. Workers of Mongla Port, through their Workers and Employees Union, placed a total of 18 logical demands, including working hours, wage increase, allowances, facilities of the Workers’ Welfare Board, insurance, and medical benefits.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, following constructive discussions and mutual understanding, decisions were taken on Wednesday to resolve the long-pending demands. At the meeting, all 18 demands raised by the workers were reviewed with due importance and resolved unanimously. The most important demand was to increase workers’ wages. In this context, the owners’ side decided to increase wages by 26 percent over the existing customary wage rate for the normal eight-hour working day.
In addition, special consideration was given to the issue of workers’ transportation from their residences to the workplace. It was decided that the time from departure before the scheduled duty hours from Kiyara Launch Ghat to reaching the workplace, as well as the time until safely returning home after duty, would be counted as working hours. At the same time, it was unanimously decided that the owners’ side would ensure quick and safe transportation of workers to Kiyara after completion of duty.
The remaining 16 demands will be resolved gradually through mutual understanding and consensus.