State-owned farm workers’ struggle compelled the government to make permanent of precarious workers working at BADC.

BAFLF members who work at public agriculture research institutes and farms as agricultural workers are vital for ensuring food security in Bangladesh. But they are struggle to survive due to low wage, precarious employment and lack of social protection.

On December 29, 2022 BAFLF submitted their demands to the agriculture minister. The demands include making permanent of precarious workers, wages increase, improving gratuity benefits. Existing wages are very low given the current high price of daily commodities and inflation; it is very difficult for workers to manage their families and meet their basic needs with this low wages. In addition to permanent jobs, end to piece rate wage systems and fair wage increase, the BAFLF is also demanding that paid maternity leave be increased from 120 to 180 days, giving farm workers the same maternity rights as farm management.

During the meeting with the minister, Agriculture minister provided commitment that he will resolve the demands by discussing with BAFLF. However, after no progress on negotiations, the Federation decided to go on strike sit -ins programme. BAFLF members across Bangladesh started strike and sit-ins from last July 21 to demand an end to precarious employment as well as abolition of piece rate wage systems and fair wage increase.

When BAFLF members country wide collective protest was going on, on July 26, the agriculture minister requested BAFLF to withdraw their strike and sit -ins providing assurance that agriculture ministry would have a meeting with BAFLF to negotiate their demands.

BAFLF leaderships had a meeting with the agriculture secretary on August 6. After the meeting Government formed a committee to study the matter and provide recommendations.

Finally, on 19 September Agriculture ministry issued three official orders in regards to BAFLF demands. In which one order provide instruction to BADC authority to make permanent of precarious workers working at BADC Farms that was BAFLF first priority. All workers working at Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and majority of agricultural workers in other state-owned institutes and farms are employed as precarious workers. The BADC play a crucial role in providing quality seeds to farmers, which requires a permanent, trained workers, yet 100% of workers are precarious.

Till the year 2001 all workers in BADC were permanent. In 2001, BADC authorities forced all 1604 permanent workers to take voluntary retirement from their jobs and they abolished all permanent posts. At present all workers in BADC work on daily basis. BAFLF has been fighting for permanent employment of agriculture workers at state owned farms including BADC. Government’s decision to make BADC workers permanent, it a big achievement of BAFLF long struggle. Note that negotiation is on in regards to wage increase, piece rate and other issues.