Crippled labourer sues KSRM for compensation

A crippled labourer has recently filed a case against Kabir Steel Re-Rolling Mills (KSRM) demanding compensation.

Labourer Mohammad Moniruzzaman Munna, a former worker of KSRM, was injured in an accident while working in 2016.

After paying one month’s medical expenses, the KSRM authorities did not provide any support to him, although they promise to pay the medical and arrears.

Alleging that KSRM officials treated him inhumanly, Munna said the company authorities, on the contrary, harassed him physically and threatened to implicate and arrest him in a false case when he went to the KSRM’s ship breaking yard to demand his arrears and compensation.

Munna did not get the arrears and compensation even after trying for six long years. He even filed a complaint with the relevant government department but in vain. Finally, finding no alternative, he moved the court to realise his demand.

On September 21, he filed a case with Chattogram Labour Court-1 accusing the managing director and manager of Kabir Group’s ship recycling facility at Bibirhat area under Bhatiari union of Sitakund upazila in Chattogram.

The plaintiff’s lawyer Advocate Pankaj Kanti Dey told The Business Post that taking cognizance of the case; the court has summoned the accused in response to the application of the helpless labourer.

Sources said on May 1, 2010, Munna, son of Md Badiuzzaman from Madam Bibirhat village of Bhatiari union of Sitakunda, joined the Kabir Group’s ship recycling facility (former M/s Kabir Steel Shipbreaking) as a cutter man. His salary was fixed at Tk 9,600. There was no complaint against him since joining the job.

According to the case statement, on January 19, 2016, he was injured in an accident while working in the yard. The KSRM authorities sent him to the hospital for treatment and provided the first month’s medical expenses. His family could not bear the treatment cost after May 25, 2017. Before that, on May 11 of the same year, he filed a complaint with the office of the Deputy Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE).

Following the complaint, on June 4 of that year, at a discussion with DIFE officials, the KSRM management gave a verbal assurance to provide medical and other allowances. But, the company stopped providing treatment costs after September 20, 2021.

The case statement said on July 5 of this year, Munna went to KSRM’s yard at Bhatiari seeking arrears and compensation, but the company authorities beat him mercilessly and threatened to implicate and arrest him in a false case if he further goes to the yard. When Munna demanded his legal arrears, the officials of the KSRM yard verbally promised to pay in the next month. But he failed to realise his arrears since then, even after contacting the yard authorities several times.

According to the FIR of the case, the plaintiff is a poor, destitute and crippled labourer. The accused treated him inhumanely without paying legal dues. Therefore, finding no alternative, he sent a registered letter on July 15 last to the yard authorities who did not pay heed to his demand to pay the dues.

Finally, Munna filed a suit in the court under sections 150, 151 and 157 of the Labour Act (2006) seeking his due arrears and compensation worth Tk 3,46,000 and 25 per cent compensation.

Advocate Pankaj Kanti Dey said that the poor worker has taken refuge in the court for his due compensation.

The court took cognizance of the case and issued a summons against the accused instructing them to appear before the court and pay the dues. Otherwise, the court might issue an arrest warrant.