BAFLF demand permanent employment for irregular workers in BADC as well as improved retirement benefit, paid weekly holidays and maternity leave.

Today agricultural farm workers conducted human chain in front of National Press Club, Dhaka organized by Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF) to demand regular employment for irregular workers employed on Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC)farm as per Agricultural Farm Workers’ Appointment and Control Policy (1990) and re-employment of  1604 farm workers who were forced to receive voluntary retirement. In addition they demand to improve retirement benefits equivalent to the wage of 60 months instead of 30 months and two days paid holyday per week, BAFLF also demand to increase paid maternity leave to 6 months, giving farm workers the same maternity rights as farm management and other govt. staff.

The speakers in the human chain urged to take immediate initiative to implement all rightful demands of agricultural farm workers and to pay wages through bank account to reduce corruption of different BADC farms.

They also said farm workers have contribution to achieve self sufficiency in food as well as success in agriculture. Skilled farm workers have been producing quality seeds for many days but they are deprived and oppressed. On the other hand, corrupted officers are earning illegal money depriving these helpless workers of their owing. If any one protests this injustice, he/she has been harassed.

Mahmodul Hasan Manik, vice president of BAFLF said, farm workers employed in BADC are being exploited. They have no job security. At this moment we need to strengthen our unity and make sure to be more active of all BAFLF affiliated BADC workers union to fight against the injustice on them.

Abdul Mozid, General Secretary of BAFLF said, BADC authority intentionally doesn’t regularize the workers as a part of conspiracy. They are pocketing thousands of money showing the fake attendance in the name masterroll attendance. He urged to stop these and to end discrimination and close the massive gap between the right and entitlements of farm workers and the officers and staff of the BADC as well as all agricultural farms.

Golam Sorowor, finance secretary of BAFLF said, BADC authority is trying to destroy foundation seed for the interest of local and multinational seed companies. For that reason they forced 1604 skilled farm workers to receive retirement and still now they don’t regularize farm workers who have been working hard to produce quality seeds for the last 20-25 years. He also added that BADC must be strengthen to save the  local verities  quality foundation seed.

Among others Abdul Latif, Lehaz Uddin Lahul, Abdul Hamid, Mamun Hossain, Ranzu and several others union leaders delivered their speech demanding to fulfill the following demands:

1. Permanent employment for irregular workers of all BADC farm and re-employing of 1604 farm workers.
2. Improve retirement benefits equivalent to the wage of 60 months instead of 30 months.
3. Provide 2 days paid holyday per week for workers of agriculture farms as same as the farm officers and employees.  
4. Increase paid maternity leave to 6 months, giving farm workers the same maternity rights as farm management and other govt. staff.   

Increased the daily wages of agriculture farm workers.

A good news. Another success of BAFLF that the Ministry of Agriculture has increased the daily wages of agriculture farm workers from 230 to 260 (irregular workers) and 260 to 300 (regular workers). The Ministry published an office order regarding this on 25 May 2014. As per the order the workers will get increased salary from 25 May 2014. It’s mentioned that increasing salary considering present market price and inflation was one of the demands of BAFLF for which it had been continuing its movement including strike, gathering and demonstration and finally we successes.