Synovia Pharma PLC, a sister concern of BEXIMCO Group owned by ex-prime minister’s private industry and investment adviser Salman F Rahman, did not reportedly pay its 380 staff and workers 31 months of salary.
Demanding full payment of dues, Synovia staff and workers held a press conference under the banner of “Employees of Synovia Pharma PLC,” organised at the city’s National Press Club on Tuesday.
In a written speech, Synovia Pharma PLC’s Workers and Employees Association President Md Mahmud Hasan said, “Salman F Rahman took over the multinational pharmaceutical company Synovia Pharma PLC in 2021.
“However, he did not pay our 380 employees' salaries unlawfully for the last 31 months. After a legal battle, the Appellate Division issued instructions not to sack these employees. Though Synovia applied unsuccessfully for a review application against that instruction, they never paid our workers.”
Mahmud added, “A double bench of High Court recently legalised a trade union (Sanofi Bangladesh Limited Workers Employees Association, B-2207) formed by us. The court also instructed the then Department of Labour director general to select a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in connection with another case filed by the trade union.
“After one and a half years of hearing, before receiving a copy of the judgment, a recently ousted judge was instructed to maintain the status quo on the case's subject matter. As a result, the 380 employees continued to be deprived of their more than two and a half years of salary, thereby living in inhumane condition.”
Mahmud said, “We urge the incumbent government to ensure justice and look into the issue of illegal takeover of Sanofi by Salman F Rahman with utmost importance.”
The association's General Secretary Sanjib Kumar Chakraborty, Member Ataur Rahman, were also present at the event among others.
