Nine state-owned jute mills in Khulna owe over Tk 750 million in wages leading to protests and strikes from the workers.
These mills have products worth Tk 3.25 billion in stock that they haven’t been able to market due to the jute export being in loss.
Meanwhile, the eight-day jute mill workers strike in Khulna and Jashore caused a loss of Tk 80 million.
The workers of nine state-owned mills in Khulna have halted production since May 5 and demonstrating for arrears.
Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) sources said that the outstanding wages of the workers alone are nearly Tk 600 million.
Moreover, employee paychecks of over Tk 164 million are due.
The authorities concerned say that the jute exports to Sudan, Ghana, Syria, Iran and India has been stopped for the last few years. Given that these countries are the largest market for Bangladesh, the jute sector is facing extreme financial constraint.
“The wages of the jute mill workers and employees have been outstanding for a long time. They are living in miserable conditions,” said BJMC Khulna unit coordinator Sazzad Hossain.
He added that the authorities were trying to clear out the dues as soon as possible and was hopeful that the problem would be resolved soon.