Chevron Bangladesh Employees Union (CBEU) and Tullow Bangladesh Employees Union (TBEU) on Saturday strongly protest against a government move to amend the labour rules and Labour Act by ignoring the rights and interests of the workers of foreign-currency invested energy companies in Bangladesh.
Both the CBEU and TBEU said that the government is trying to deprive the workers from their lawful 5% Workers’ Profit Participation Fund (WPPF) to facilitate vested quarters.
They came up with the statement at a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters Unity.
CBEU general secretary Mohammad Nur-e-Alam Siddique read out the written statement when CBEU president Mostafa Sohel Iqbal, TBEU general secretary Md. Harun Al Rashid, Labour representatives of the National Tripartite Consultative Council (TCC) Ruhul Amin, Nazma Akhter, Babul Akhter, Khorshed Alam, among others, were also present.
The labourers’ leaders said, the government, specially the Ministry of Labour and Employment, is trying to amend the labour rules and Labour Act in a hurry when the the entire nation is concentrated to the upcoming national election.
In the written statement, CBEU general secretary Mohammad Nur-e-Alam Siddique said, “Not only that the government is trying to finalise the amendment process ignoring the opinion and protest of the labourers’ leaders.”
He said, CBEU and TBEU firmly believe this is not a routine administrative action but a deep conspiracy aimed at depriving national workers of their rights and granting unjust privileges to foreign companies.
Terming the move a conspiracy, the CBEU leader said, “On the eve of the national election, taking advantage of diverted public attention, such unusual haste in amending rules on such a sensitive labour-rights issue is not only inappropriate but also indicates a clear conspiracy against national interest aimed at granting unjust benefits to certain vested quarters and companies.”
He added, in light of national interest, justice, and legal obligation, CBEU and TBEU firmly demand that all initiatives to amend the Labour Act or Labour Rules on sub judice matters must be stopped immediately.
“Otherwise, we would forge a strong movement against the government move”, he said.
Under Bangladesh labour law, eligible enterprises are legally obligated to allocate 5% of their annual net profit to the Workers’ Profit Participation Fund (WPPF) to ensure workers’ welfare and fair participation. Numerous domestic and foreign companies in Bangladesh already comply with this requirement. Even national-level gas exploration, production, and distribution entities have been providing WPPF in accordance with the law for many years.
