Rajshahi, Mar 26: Though the local female labourers are working with the same integrity like their male counterparts, they are victims of wage discrimination.
The demand of female labourers is high in local potato farming here, but they get half the salary than the male one's.
The female workers are being discriminated not only at their own houses but also at their workplaces. They said they know the discrimination, but they don't have any choice except working at this situation. They alleged they not only do the same work as the male labourers but sometimes they do extra work, but they are paid less. A male labourer's mistake during his work is not taken seriously but that of a female labourer is heavily counted, they further alleged.
"If we try to raise our voice, our owners threaten to dismiss us," said a female worker, seeking anonymity.
It is known that a male labourer working in a potato land from early morning to noon gets Tk 300 to 400 per day while a female one gets Tk 150 to 200 for the same work. Some female labourers- Shefali, Anwara, Marzina Begum and others said that they are working at this potato field in Sikdari area of Baghmara Upazila from 7am to 1pm, and each of them gets Tk 150, but at the same time, a male labourer gets Tk 350. Baghmara Upazila Social Welfare Officer Laiju Razzak admitted the wage discrimination and said, "We are working with different organisations to solve the problem. We just need to change our mentality to end discrimination toward the female labourers."
