Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labor Federation(BAFLF) was establish in 1978. Since its inception it has been fighting for the right of agricultural farm labors in different sectors of the government that are dealing the agriculture, such as BRRI, BARI, BADC, NATA, sugar mill factories, etc. At the beginning, the workers of these sectors were very low-paid and were humiliated in different ways by the official high-ups. Raising voice against all these irregularities 28 leaders and workers got arrested and put into jail those days. Even they had to stage 68 days strike at stretch in early eighties. As a result, in early 1990 the then government was compelled to introduce a manual for agricultural labor called 'Agricultural Farm Labor Recruitment and regulation manual' By dint of long and persistent struggle the organization achieved many significant successes that broke through the long standing deprivation of labors.
They have been able to increase in salary pay at different times, increase in yearly festival bonus from one to two, execution of maternity leave provision, provision of gratuity, etc.
BAFLF is still on the street for the interest of agricultural labors. The leaders are also pursuing in the different ministries concerned for the betterment of the labors. The President and General Secretary of the federation are the members of Inter-governmental Ministerial Committee on Agricultural Labor. With this reference to, they are pressing the issue of salary increase of regular and irregular labors working in different agricultural sectors. Recently a circular from the both Ministry of Finance and Agriculture published contains the proposal of salary increase from Tk.260/- to Tk.300/- for regular labors and Tk. 230/- to Tk. 260/- for irregular labors. It might come into effect soon that benefits all labors working in these sectors.
On 22 May 2014 Badrul Alam, President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation and Sabina Yasmin, Member of Bangladesh Kishani Sabha visited BAFLF based in Gajipur near the capital city of Dhaka. They attended a big gathering of agricultural labors, both male and female in the auditorium of BRRI. In this gathering BAFLF General Secretary Abdul Majid raised the increased numbers of holidays required for the labors. He also claimed weekly holiday for agricultural labors. Mr. Majid emphasized the inclusion of agricultural labor in the national wage and pay commission and the need for particular law in favor of agricultural labors of Bangladesh. Other leaders like Sarowar, Mamun also spoke on the same issues. Badrul Alam who was invited as chief guest expressed solidarity with the demands of agricultural labors and made commitment to recommend for the member ship of BAFLF in La Via Campesina, an international Network of peasants' organization. He also expressed to work together on different national and international issues namely climate change, food sovereignty and gender. In the after noon, there was a short visit to BARI, NATA, Seed Certification Agency and its workers and their leaders.
Afterwards they joined another meeting of workers in BADC(Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation). The leaders of BADC warmly welcomed visiting leaders and described their plight as worker. They said BNP led 4 Party Alliance at the prescription of WB/IMF had retrenched 1604 workers with so called golden hand shake that was totally against the willingness of workers and really disaster to their life ad livelihood. The alliance government also handed over the seed marketing business and irrigation system to the private hand which cause serious problem in the activities BADC. Because of this, the reputation of BADC is under threat. The BADC labor leader Mr. Nantu and other leaders asked for catastrophic and medical support for the labor. Their key leader Abdul Majid promised to fight for increase of gratuity from 30 months which the labors have now to 60 months at the end of their service life. They as well continued fight for the realization of the government law of 6 months maternity leave from the existing 3 months leave which BADC management has been still following.
They have been able to increase in salary pay at different times, increase in yearly festival bonus from one to two, execution of maternity leave provision, provision of gratuity, etc.
BAFLF is still on the street for the interest of agricultural labors. The leaders are also pursuing in the different ministries concerned for the betterment of the labors. The President and General Secretary of the federation are the members of Inter-governmental Ministerial Committee on Agricultural Labor. With this reference to, they are pressing the issue of salary increase of regular and irregular labors working in different agricultural sectors. Recently a circular from the both Ministry of Finance and Agriculture published contains the proposal of salary increase from Tk.260/- to Tk.300/- for regular labors and Tk. 230/- to Tk. 260/- for irregular labors. It might come into effect soon that benefits all labors working in these sectors.
On 22 May 2014 Badrul Alam, President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation and Sabina Yasmin, Member of Bangladesh Kishani Sabha visited BAFLF based in Gajipur near the capital city of Dhaka. They attended a big gathering of agricultural labors, both male and female in the auditorium of BRRI. In this gathering BAFLF General Secretary Abdul Majid raised the increased numbers of holidays required for the labors. He also claimed weekly holiday for agricultural labors. Mr. Majid emphasized the inclusion of agricultural labor in the national wage and pay commission and the need for particular law in favor of agricultural labors of Bangladesh. Other leaders like Sarowar, Mamun also spoke on the same issues. Badrul Alam who was invited as chief guest expressed solidarity with the demands of agricultural labors and made commitment to recommend for the member ship of BAFLF in La Via Campesina, an international Network of peasants' organization. He also expressed to work together on different national and international issues namely climate change, food sovereignty and gender. In the after noon, there was a short visit to BARI, NATA, Seed Certification Agency and its workers and their leaders.
Afterwards they joined another meeting of workers in BADC(Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation). The leaders of BADC warmly welcomed visiting leaders and described their plight as worker. They said BNP led 4 Party Alliance at the prescription of WB/IMF had retrenched 1604 workers with so called golden hand shake that was totally against the willingness of workers and really disaster to their life ad livelihood. The alliance government also handed over the seed marketing business and irrigation system to the private hand which cause serious problem in the activities BADC. Because of this, the reputation of BADC is under threat. The BADC labor leader Mr. Nantu and other leaders asked for catastrophic and medical support for the labor. Their key leader Abdul Majid promised to fight for increase of gratuity from 30 months which the labors have now to 60 months at the end of their service life. They as well continued fight for the realization of the government law of 6 months maternity leave from the existing 3 months leave which BADC management has been still following.
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