Production at nine state-owned jute mills in Khulna-Jashore industrial belt came to a halt as workers started a 24-hours work abstention this morning to press home their 11-point demand, including payment of their dues and implementation of their new wage board.

Setting the tyres on fire, the workers started their work abstention around 6:00 am in front of different jute mills in the district, reports our Khulna correspondent.

Some workers arranged a street drama in front of Daulatpur Jute Mill in the morning to express their plights.  

Today’s work abstention is the part of their seven-day agitation programme announced on November 23 under the banner of “State-owned Jute Mill Collective Bargaining Association (CBA) and Non-CBA Sangram Parishad”.

Their 11-point demand includes cancellation of public-private ownership of jute mills, payment of provident fund and gratuity for retired workers, regularisation of weekly wages and implementation of the wage commission and payment of their arrears.

The workers also demanded that the government buy jute products for other sectors.

Over 31,000 workers (permanent and daily basis) have been working of nine state-owned jute mills in Khulna-Jashore industrial belt.

The government announced a wage board in June 2015, but it is yet to be implemented.

Around 11 weeks’ wages are unpaid for workers at Crescent, Platinum and Star jute mills and nine weeks for Khalishpur Jute Mills workers and 10 weeks for Daulatpur Jute Mills employees.

The other mill workers are also not being paid regularly and their wages are at least seven-eight weeks’ dues. 

Yesterday, jute mill workers staged demonstrated to press home their demands.