Govt to form inter-ministerial committee to resolve tea workers' grievances

Ggy

Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain, Adviser to the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Shipping, has announced that the government will form a high-level inter-ministerial committee to address the crisis of the tea industry.

The committee will comprise representatives from the Ministries of Labour, Finance, Commerce, Industries, Agriculture, and Land. In addition, tripartite discussions involving workers, employers, and the government will be held to resolve challenges in the sector.

The adviser made these remarks while addressing a views-exchange meeting yesterday (Friday) at the Balishira Valley Club in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, attended by owners, CEOs, and managers of various tea estates in the district.

He stated that the government is working to improve the living standards of tea workers and to ensure their basic needs are met. He also noted that the government would consider the possibility of establishing a hospital for tea workers in Sreemangal. Emphasising the significance of the sector, he said, “The tea industry is one of Bangladesh’s traditional export sectors and was once East Pakistan’s sole export commodity. We must not allow this industry to collapse.”

The meeting was chaired by A H M Shafiquzzaman, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Kamran Tanvirur Rahman, Chairman and Managing Director of Kapna Tea Company Limited, also spoke on the occasion. Managers of tea estates highlighted various challenges facing the tea industry during the discussion.

Secretary A H M Shafiquzzaman noted that tea workers are not receiving their wages on time because the auction price of tea is lower than its production cost. Discussions are ongoing regarding improving wage and ration distribution systems.

The Chairman of the Tea Board added that increasing the auction price of tea could help the sector recover from its current crisis.

The meeting was also attended by the Chairman of the Tea Board, the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Moulvibazar, and officials from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Department of Labour, and the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE).