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The Tannery Workers Union on Tuesday urged the government to take necessary steps to solve the tannery industry’s existing problems in order to build an environment-friendly modern leather industry.
It raised the demand at a discussion held at the BSCIC Leather Industrial City in Savar’s Hemayetpur to mark its 57th founding anniversary.
Dr Wajedul Islam Khan, general secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union, addressed the occasion as the chief guest while Tannery Workers Union President Abul Kalam Azad was in the chair.
The speakers made several suggestions to solve the tannery industry’s problems, including taking effective steps to fully implement the labour act and labour rules concerning the tannery industry as well as strengthening regular inspections and supervisions by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments.
They also called for ensuring social compliance in the industry and proper waste management, improving workers’ occupational health and safety, setting up a 50-bed hospital in the leather industrial city, and fully implementing maternity benefits.
They also demanded the minimum wage scheme announced by the government be implemented, the dismissal of skilled and experienced workers be stopped, work through illegal contractors without registration and licence be stopped, the tannery industry be made fully formal as per the International Labour Organisation conventions, and the interference in workers’ freedom to become trade union members be stopped.
Abdul Malek, general secretary of the Tannery Workers Union, addressed the programme among others.
Mohiuddin Ahmed Mahin, chairman of Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leathergoods and Footwear Exporters Association; Md Mizabur Rahman, vice-chairman of Bangladesh Tanners Association; Advocate Salim Ahsan Khan, legal counsel at Solidarity Centre’s Bangladesh office; and Mahmudul Hassan Khan, deputy director of Bangladesh Labour Foundation, were present as special guests.
