Govt plans to curb trade union activities

The government is planning to impose strong control over trade union activities at government, semi-government and autonomous bodies. A government plan and policy, in this regard, is expected to be reflected in the coming budget speech of the Finance Minister on June 11, it has been learnt.
Sources in the Ministry of Labour and Employment said the Government wanted to limit the numbers of trade unions at different industries, banks, insurances, government, semi-government and also in autonomous bodies to one or two.
Sources said there are more than one, in cases 10 to 12 trade unions at all government, semi-government and autonomous bodies, including Chittagong Port, Mongla Port, Benapole Land Port, Railway Department, Roads and Highways, PWD, PDB, T & T, Rajuk, CDA, KDA, RDA, BADC, BCIC, BSEC, BRTA, BRTC, BRDB and Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
The activities of many trade unions in a single body disrupt its administrative and development activities as well as production. Besides, working atmosphere of the organisations is also being hampered due to frequent processions and rallies by the trade unions on the pretext of different types of demands,” an official of the Ministry of Labour and Employment alleged.
He also alleged that leaders of trade unions remain busy with lobbying for transfer, promotion, allocation of residences and vehicles for their chosen officials and workers and employees. Besides, they also remain busy in granting loan in the name of mills and industries, waving interest against loan, rescheduling of loan.
The official disclosed that a number of accused trade union leaders have been sent to jail on such allegations.
Sources in the Shipping Ministry said, there were 23 trade unions in the Mongla Port, the lifeline of country’s export an import. Movement of trade unions like sit-in programme, rallies and processions, in the name of different demands hampered the port activities seriously in the past. There are also allegations that the trade union leaders at Chittagong Port extortionate huge amount of money from shipping agents, container handling firms.
Same condition is prevailing at the Biman Bangladesh Airlines where 8 trade unions exist. It is alleged that trade union leaders receive money against over time without work from the national flag carrier body now incurring loss.
Minister for Finance Abul Mal Abdul Muhit told reporters that trade union activities are creating obstacles in the path of development.
That’s why the government is contemplating as to how trade union activities can be controlled rather than stopping those. In this regard, the government considers maintaining one or two trade unions in a single organisation, he said.
The Finance Minister further said, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has taken a plan of action in this regard.

Courtesy of The New Nation