DINAJPUR: Provisional workers of Dinajpur Maddhyapara hardrock mine Sunday went on indefinite strike to press for their permanent employment and payment of their salary arrears.

The stone mining stopped totally as the 292 master-roll workers struck, mine sources said

Hired by Maddhyapara Coal Mining Company Limited on temporary basis, the workers have long been demanding the confirmation of their job.

The workers called a press conference on May 16 and gave the authorities two days to meet their demand. They Saturday brought out a procession as their demands weren’t met by the deadline. And they went on strike Sunday, as their ultimatum went unheeded.

The mining company appointed the 292 workers through a contracting company named Messrs Blusters Service on October 16, 2004 following a governmental decision. According the contract the company will run the work with the provisional workers up to 2012.

Maddhyapara Hardrock Mine Workers Union leader Mostafizur Rahman told banglanews24.com.bd that, according to the company rule, the provisional workers should have been made permanent after completing six months’ training under the government employment process initiated in 2004.

“But the mine management has kept the workers as provisional ones by the contractor since 2004,” he said.

The union leader said the strike will continue until their demands are met.

The mine sources said that the total monthly cost of mine worker and officials’ wage payments and allowances come to Tk 2.5 crore. About 3.5 lakh metric tonnes of ‘low-demand’ boulder stones sized 80-600 mm remained unsold among stones of six sizes.

A total of 1200 metric tonnes of stones are lifted from the mine daily.

None of the mine management was available for remark on the situation.

BDST: 2.27 Hrs.May23.2010
SA/MUA