Labour unrest fuelled from neighbouring country: Home minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has alleged that some individuals are trying to create instability in the country in the name of a workers' movement, claiming they are being instigated from a neighbouring country.

“This is not a movement of workers,” he said.

The minister made the remarks while briefing journalists at the Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon.

He said the government had handled the situation with patience and instructed law enforcement agencies not to use excessive force.

Salahuddin urged workers to return to their workplaces, saying the wage board had started working to determine a reasonable wage for them.

He expressed hope that the board would make its recommendations before the stipulated deadline.

The minister said workers should consider the impact of the unrest on their employment and industrial production, adding that there was no reason to continue the movement as the wage board had already been formed and begun its work.

He said the board had been asked to announce the new wages ahead of schedule. The new wages are scheduled to take effect from January 1, he added, expressing hope that the announcement could be made earlier.

sks