 Moulvibazar District Truck Tanker, Pickup, Covered Van Workers Union (Reg No-Chatr-2503) today 13th June morning held a protest march and handed out a memorandum in Moulvibazar demanding the withdrawal of Essential Services Bill-2023. The protest march started from in front of the office of District Truck Tanker, Pickup, Covered Van Workers Union and ended by handing over the memorandum to the Moulvibazar District Commissioner’s office. Moulvibazar District Truck Tankerry, Pickup, Covered Van Workers Union (Reg No-Chatr-2503) Acting President Md. Abdul Bazid, Vice-President Shablu Miah, General Secretary Md. Azadur Rahman, Joint Secretary Nurul Miah, Organizer Shajahan Miah, were present at this time. Baralekha branch, Juri branch, Kulaura branch, Kamalganj branch with office secretary Bablu Acharya, treasurer Ilyach Mia. Leaders of Srimangal Branch, Moulvibazar Sadar Branch and Sherpur Branch and others. The leaders mentioned in the transcript – last April 6-2023 Bangladesh National Parliament or. JS- Bill No. 12/2023 has been introduced. The bill mentions 18 sectors as essential services but mainly targets the transport sector. As a result, workers in the transport sector fear increased workload, oppression and deprivation but will have no opportunity or right to protest. If this bill becomes law, this law will take precedence over the labor law. Whereas the Labor Act states that unless otherwise specified elsewhere in this Act, this Act shall apply to the whole of Bangladesh. That is why we fear that this essential services bill, if passed into law, will render the labor laws ineffective. Because of the industrial dispute under Section 209 of the Labor Act Article 210 of the Act provides for the settlement of industrial disputes. Article 211 lays down the provisions and procedures for strikes when all avenues of dispute settlement are exhausted.
As a result, if this bill becomes a law, the legal right to strike in the labor law will also be taken away. It is mentioned in the beginning of this bill that the Act of 1952 and the Ordinance of 1958 are being introduced as a bill to make necessary provisions for declaring certain jobs or classes of jobs or services as essential services, permission of the persons concerned and other matters. We think that the law against which our predecessors protested during the Pakistani subjugation period cannot be accepted in any way in today’s independent country. On behalf of all transport workers in the country, we (one) agree that this bill is inconsistent with the democratic functioning of trade unions and is a waste of the fruits of the long-standing movement of workers in this area. If this bill becomes law, it will be contrary to the fundamental right to strike recognized by the ILO Convention and international recommendations. Our experience shows that workers who strike unless absolutely forced to do so generally comply with the provisions of the Labor Act and despite the fact that the Labor Act itself has strike penalties against illegal strikes, the introduction of the Essential Services Bill has raised eyebrows among conscious workers and has sown the seeds of discontent in labor circles. (ii) The process of amending the Labor Act is currently underway. Trade unions, employers’ associations, labor department, factory and establishment inspection department have suggested various amendments. The observations of the ILO Committee of Experts have also been taken into consideration. At that time, the introduction of this bill called into question the very process of revising the labor laws. (3) The bill has been introduced in disregard of the tripartite decision-making process. Any important decision regarding labor is to be approved through TCC meeting. But there was no discussion about this bill in any tripartite meeting. (iv) This Act is inconsistent with the principles, recommendations of the International Transport Organisation. As a result, if this law is enacted, it will tarnish our image at the international level as well. On the whole we feel that quality service cannot be expected from the transport workers by keeping them in a state of intimidation and fear. Rather, it will sow the seeds of discontent and tension.
