Trade unions are meant to protect the rights of workers – be it to ensure their workplace safety, bargain for adequate wages, and protect workers from being exploited. Trade unions, prominent labour leaders say, is often used by political parties to actually exert authority over the workers. Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, also executive president of Bangladesh Transport Workers’ Federation and a veteran labour leader, however said workers are often exploited to create anarchy in the industrial sector. Ruling party AL’s associate organisation National Workers League patronises 305 unions which represents 5,34,463 workers, which is over half of unionised workers while BNP has 279 trade unions under its wings, with its associate organisation Bangladesh Nationalist Workers Party representing 247,454 workers. Mujahidul said when workers are divided along party lines instead of being united for their rights, workers themselves suffer the most.

Source: Dhaka Tribune April 30, 2017 19:07 UTC