Tea workers strike for wage hike in Sylhet

Gvoice Desk: Hundreds of workers of 23 tea gardens in Sylhet observed a two hour work abstention on Tuesday demanding a daily wage of Tk300 due to price hike of daily essentials.

The workers of Sylhet Valley went on work abstention around 10am on Tuesday demanding a hike in their wages.

They also brought out a procession in front of Lakkatura Tea Garden near Sylhet airport road and formed a human chain there.

Raju Goala, president of Tea Workers Union Sylhet Valley, said “We have been demanding to raise our wages for a long time but no response has come yet. The daily essentials items already shot up in the local kitchen market and the price hike of fuel also brings a double blow for us. It is difficult for us to maintain our family with Tk120 daily wages.”

“The authorities concerned did not pay any heed to our demand for the past two years though there is a norm to renew the contract between two years. But no effective steps have been taken yet,” he said.

The leader also threatened to go for a tougher movement if their demand for Tk300 daily wage was not met immediately.