Akij Food workers protest in Dhamrai over wage hike, 8 other demands

Hundreds of Akij Food and Beverage Limited workers demonstrated in front of the factory at Dhamrai, on the outskirts of capital Dhaka, this morning (7 October) over a nine-point charter of demands that include wage hikes, weekly holidays, night shift allowances and a share of company profits.

The protest began at around 6am when the workers, mostly employed on a daily wage basis, blocked the Aricha-bound side of the Dhaka-Aricha Highway, creating a two-kilometre-long gridlock. They, however, left the road after 30 minutes and continued their demonstration in front of the factory.

Until the filing of this report at 12pm, the workers were still protesting at the scene

Demanding an end to wage discrimination, the workers expressed frustration over unmet promises from the company. They claimed that their demands had been ignored for a long time despite repeated requests for wage adjustments and other benefits.

They said the factory management promised to increase their wages three months ago, but they have yet to get it and that is why they have taken to the street.

Their nine demands include raising the minimum monthly wage to Tk15,000, Eid bonus amounting to half of the salary, ensuring work to everyone daily, making employment permanent based on skill and performance, giving a share of company profits, night shift allowances, compensating workers for injuries sustained on the job, ensuring safety measures across all departments, and granting weekly holidays.

Sharing her struggles, a female worker said she earns Tk7,000 a month after working on a daily work basis, but it's nowhere near enough to support her family. "I've asked for a raise many times, but nothing happened. We don't get regular shifts or any leave.

"I've been working here for five years, but they haven't made my job permanent. That's why we are demonstrating today."

"We have presented our nine demands to the company. If they don't meet them, we will continue our protest," warned another worker.

In response to the protest, law enforcement personnel were deployed in front of the factory to maintain order.

Speaking at the scene, Sub-Inspector Md Rezaul Karim of the Industrial Police-1 said they were discussing the workers' demands with the factory management and trying to resolve the issue.

However, no official statement from the factory management was available at the time of reporting.