Milk Vita products output has declined at least 30 per cent following the wildcat strike by the workers protesting gross violation in recruiting of 540 workers on master roll.
“The production of Milk Vita has fallen by 81,876 litres of milk in last two days’ strike against average daily production of 1.6 lakh litres causing a loss of Tk 46 lakh from the sale proceeds,” said a senior official of the state run Bangladesh Milk Producers’ Co-operative Union Limited.He said, several hundreds master role workers, who were deprived from giving appointment letters, went on strike following the issuance of appointment letters on April 16 what they said violating the appointment rules.
The workers have been continuing their agitation in front of Milk Vita head office in Dhaka, and its factories at Mirpur and Baghabarighat demanding cancellation of the appointment letters and ensuring their appointments, he added.
The Milk Vita official said a five member committee was formed in August last year to prepare a fit list of the master role workers and submit report to the managing director of the state-run cooperative dairy firm.
The committee headed by vice chairman of managing committee of Milk Vita allegedly took eight months time but submitted no report to the authorities.
Another official said some committee members in connivance with an influential CBA leader finalised a list of 540 workers to give them appointment in lieu of money. Each appointment cost Tk one lakh to three lakh, he added.
The official alleged that the committee gave appointment to at least 150 fresher by dropping several hundred skilled employees. The committee did not follow the established procedures to prepare the fit list of workers to appoint them, he added.
He alleged that appointment letters were issued without any entry on the register by keeping the page blank.
It is alleged that deputy general manger Mahbubur Rahman has issued the appointment letters without the approval of the managing director of the Milk Vita.
According to sources, the authorities concerned has issued a show cause notice to the DGM asking to explain as to how he issued appointment letters without the approval of the chief executive of the firm.
A worker works in a cow shed Baghabarighat factory preferring to anonymity regretted that he did not get appointment letter as he failed to provide money to the committee people.
“Those who could provide money they got the appointment letters. A worker had to pay one lakh to five lakh taka based on experience to get appointment. But I did not get it though I am working for over 10 years,” he alleged.
When contacted managing director of Milk Vita Muhammad Munir Chowdhury told The Independent that he has received such allegations about the irregularities in selecting and appointment process.
“A five member committee headed by general manger (administration) to examine whether any irregularity had taken place in preparing the fit list of workers,” he said.
Chowdhury said the committee has been asked to submit its report by Thursday.
He said if any experienced and genuine worker is left out they would be accommodated and if anyone had provided money for appointment letters would be refunded.
Golam Sarwar, general secretary of Milk Vita CBA, rejected the allegation of involvement of the CBA leaders in the recruitment process.
He alleged the scrutiny committee even did not disclose the names to check as to whether any eligible workers were dropped from the fit list.
The CBA leader further said the difficulties arisen out in appointing master role workers would be resolved soon and those were dropped from the list would be enlisted.
Convenor of the scrutiny committee Md Shafiqur Rahman could not be reached over telephone.
Workers in Dhaka staged demonstration in front of head office at Tejgaon and Mirpur factory demanding cancellation of they said illegal appointment and demanding regularisation of their jobs.
Law enforcers were deployed at Tejgaon and Mirpur to maintain law and order during he agitations.
Our Sirajganj correspondent reports that the production and processing activities of Milk Vita at Baghabarighat unit in Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj district have been hampered drastically yesterday, as several hundreds of workers and employees enforce indefinite strike from 9.00am demanding regularization of their jobs.
Central leaders of Workers and Employees Association at the Milk Vita called upon the strike on Thursday to press home their demand of job regularization, sources said. – Staff Reporter
