Business News
Bangladesh water transport workers call off strike
Nov 9, 2009, 11:32 GMT
Dhaka - Workers on Monday called off a strike that had halted river transport in Bangladesh for 38 hours, after the government said it would meet their demands.
Acting Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader announced the agreement after a meeting with workers' leaders and private shipping operators.
More than 125,000 water transport workers in private-sector shipping operations walked off their jobs on Saturday to press a series of demands, including a new pay structure.
Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam, Secretary General of Bangladesh River Transport Workers Federation, which had called the stoppage, confirmed the strike had been called off.
Workers' demands included a 90 per cent boost in their minimum wage of 1,500 takas (28 dollars) a month and stepping up security on rivers to stop extortion and robbery.
The strike affected thousands of passengers and caused problems for traders whose goods were piled up at river terminals.
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