Workers of Total Gas Kumira Terminal are deprived of fair rights

Premier LP Gas Ltd. (Total Bangladesh) is the Bangladesh-based subsidiary of French multinational company Total Energies, Total LP Gas Limited.The Total Bangladesh authorities have been depriving the directly recruited workers of Chittagong’s Sitakunda Kumira LPG Terminal from their rightful rights for the past 10/15 years.The workers are directly recruited by providing them with permanent employment letter and identity card with photo, without paying the arrears of annual earned leave with all the benefits of permanent workers as per the labor law, the commission is being illegally deducted from the incentives of the workers.If the workers protested, they were threatened with physical abuse and dismissal from their jobs. To get justice in this matter, the Prime Minister along with the Secretary of the Council of Ministers, Public Security Department, Member of Parliament Sitakunda, OSK Garments Workers Federation, District Commissioner Chittagong, District Parishad Chairman Chittagong, Terminal Incharge-Premier LP Gas Ltd. (Total Bangladesh)Chittagong, Bangladesh Human Rights Commission Chairman, DG Factories and Institutions of Ministry of Labor and Employment and Chairman of Minimum Wage Board filed a complaint on behalf of all the workers deprived of fair rights, worker Abdul Hamid.Complainant Abdul Hamid said, we 62 workers have been directly employed at Premier LP Gas Ltd. (Total Bangladesh), LPG Terminal of Chittagong for 10/15 years and have been performing their duties with utmost honesty, devotion, sincerity, trustworthiness and efficiency.We have never disobeyed the authority of Premier LP Gas Ltd., have not caused any kind of damage to the organization, nor have we been involved in any unruly activities. As a result, our service record is very clean during our long tenure.According to section 02 (V) of the Employment (Standing Order) Act of 1965 AD and section 02 of the Industrial Relations Ordinance of 1969 AD, as per section 02 (65) and 175 of the Bangladesh Labor Act of 2006 AD, we are defined as manual workers.But it is a matter of great sadness and regret that despite our repeated verbal requests, we have not been provided with permanent employment letter and identity card with photo in legal manner. But verbally we have been told that we are permanent workers.But the appointment letter and identity card were not provided. Provident fund with statutory out of service was not introduced, accrued annual leave arrears were never encashed, apart from this other benefits were also denied, 2 Eid bonus was not given.There is no annual leave as recognized by the Labor Act. No annual increment is paid on merit basis. Due to which the future of our family has become uncertain. The identity card given to us by the authority cannot be a permanent worker identity card under any circumstances. However, the authorities very cleverly treated us as casual workers in the identity cards provided.There is no annual leave as recognized by the Labor Act. No annual increment is paid on merit basis. Due to which the future of our family has become uncertain. The identity card given to us by the authority cannot be a permanent worker identity card under any circumstances. However, the authorities very cleverly treated us as casual workers in the identity cards provided.But according to Section 4(8) of Bangladesh Labor Act, employment becomes permanent/confirmed within 3 months of joining employment. It is stated in the said clause that even if the permanent appointment letter is not given, the employment of the concerned worker shall be considered as permanent as per the mentioned provision within 3 months. There is a clear decision of the Hon’ble High Court in this regard.The workers said that we are employed against permanent posts, we are not being paid properly. We are requested to pay all our benefits as per law and all dues including annual accrued leave dues as aerial by providing permanent appointment letter and photo identification.Meanwhile, the Bangladesh OSK Garment Workers Federation sent a letter to the Directorate of Inspection of Factories and Institutions under the Ministry of Labor and Employment on the basis of the complaint filed by the workers, and the Directorate authorities asked Premier LP Gas Limited (Total Bangladesh) to investigate the matter.It has issued notices to its managing director and workers to appear at their work office on 9th July 2024 along with supporting documents.AS Krishan, Managing Director of Premier LP Gas Limited (Total Bangladesh) did not agree to comment on this matter. Apart from this, no response was received despite repeated calls and text messages on the mobile phone of Total Gas Kumira Terminal Head of Supply and Logistics Ahmed Monir Uddin.