A human Chain was formed on June 21, 2017 by the Ship breaking workers under the banner of Ship Breaking Workers Trade Union Forum demanding due wages and festival bonus for Eid Ul Fitr. It was organized at Station Road, Chittagong which lasted for an hour.
Ship Breaking workers Trade Union Forum Convener Tapan Dutta, Joint convener A M Nazimuddin, Md. Mosiuddowla, SBWTUF Member Md. Ali, Kamaluddin spoke on the occasion.
Speakers said that, the ship breaking workers work in yards all the year round. But it is very sad that they are poorly paid and even not paid in proper time. Those who are permanently recruited in yards get their wages and other benefits but the common ship yard workers do not get satisfactory amount and level of payment even in this risky job. Speakers said, workers work in all the shifts with inadequate PPE, in a very risky and hazardous working atmosphere. They are neither given food nor pure drinking water. Even it is a very common scene that on the eve of religious or social festivals they are deprived of their due wages and bonus.
Speakers urged the yard owners and concerned authorities to take necessary steps to ensure the payment of wages to all ship breaking workers.