Cleaners Strike Ahead of Eid Over Pay, Bonus

In the days leading up to Eid, cleaners employed by Barishal City Corporation have launched a strike demanding their overdue wages and festive bonuses. On Tuesday afternoon, they gathered in protest outside Ashwini Kumar Hall, drawing attention to the financial hardships they face and the delay in promised payments. Speaking at the assembly, Monisha Chakraborty, district coordinator of the Bangladesh Socialist Party (BASAD), expressed solidarity with the striking workers.

The cleaners claimed that despite working 30 days a month, they are only paid for 22 days. Traditionally, separate allowances were provided for festivals and iftar, but this year, they were informed they would only receive basic wages, with no bonus or festival allowance. Many workers said that their low salaries make it difficult to support their families, and without the bonus, celebrating Eid or providing even a proper meal for their loved ones has become a challenge.

The workers warned that if their outstanding wages and Eid bonuses are not paid by 27th Ramadan, they would escalate their protest, including road blockades and other stringent actions. Cleaner Rahim Mia voiced his frustration, stating, “If we don’t receive the bonus at Eid, our joy will be crushed. It is a gross injustice to us.”

Prior to the assembly, workers staged an initial protest outside the City Corporation building before marching through Chawk Bazar and Girjamohalla roads, concluding the procession at Ashwini Kumar Hall.

Several participants highlighted that unpaid wages for February and the absence of the upcoming Eid bonus have left them struggling to sustain basic living standards. Aleya Begum, a cleaner, said, “Even with low wages, we try to manage our household. Without the festival allowance, how can we celebrate Eid with our children?”

Official sources at the city corporation explained that during the interim government, a joint meeting by the Labour Department and the Ministry of Local Government raised the daily wage for labour-based staff from BDT 10,000 to BDT 16,000, as published in the government gazette. However, the gazette explicitly stated that labour-based staff would not be eligible for any festival allowances, a decision that has sparked widespread anger among workers.

Labour leader Saidul stated that they had approached the Chief Executive Officer of the City Corporation to resolve the matter. While the official requested more time to address the issue, workers remain unconvinced and frustrated at the delay.

Monisha Chakraborty emphasised during the rally, “With only ten days left before Eid, preparations should be underway for the festival markets. Yet, these hardworking cleaners are on the streets. Their modest wages are insufficient to buy clothes or essentials for themselves or their families. They have taken to protest simply to secure what is rightfully theirs. The authorities cannot let the gazette decision tarnish the festive joy of the city’s poorest workers.”

She added, “Those who keep our city clean every day have had their rights eroded for generations. Even after years of service, they have not been made permanent. Now, the authorities are trying to deny them their modest Eid bonus as well. We make it unequivocally clear: this will not be allowed. Outstanding wages and bonuses must be paid before Eid, or the workers will escalate their protest through more stringent action.”