BATB workers in Meherpur stage protest for permanent jobs

MEHERPUR, Aug 17: Workers engaged in various activities of British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) formed a human chain and staged a protest in Meherpur on Sunday, demanding permanent employment, an end to the contracting system and direct recruitment by the company.

The programme was held in front of the Meherpur BATB office around noon at the initiative of the BATB Field Technician and Office Staff Workers Welfare Union. The workers later brought out a protest march.
Central President of the organisation Ariful Islam, General Secretary Samiul Islam, Organising Secretary Md Sohel Rana and other leaders and workers attended the programme.

Speakers at the human chain said they had been performing regular duties for BATB for years but were officially employed through contracting companies.

As a result, they are being deprived of various workplace facilities and legal rights, they alleged. They also claimed that workers were threatened with losing their jobs when they raised demands for their rights.

The workers alleged irregularities in salary payments and overtime work and said they were often denied overtime allowances, weekly holidays and other legal benefits.

They also claimed that workers often do not receive adequate medical treatment or compensation when accidents occur at the workplace.

The speakers said their jobs had not been made permanent despite working for the same organisation for a long time.

They demanded an end to the contracting system and direct permanent employment under BATB.