The National Shop Employees Federation (NSEF) has called for the assurance of Eid bonuses and fair overtime allowances for nearly six million workers employed in shops, retail outlets, shopping malls, and chain stores across the country.
At a press conference held on Friday at the National Press Club, the organisation alleged that although labour laws guarantee such benefits, most employees in the sector are deprived of Eid bonuses, weekly holidays, and overtime pay.
The organisation further alleged that despite clear legal provisions, most establishments fail to provide appointment letters to employees and do not pay salaries within the stipulated time.
Although the law mandates one and a half days of weekly leave, many workers do not receive even a single day off per week, and a sector-based wage board for shop employees has yet to be formed.
With the holy Eid-ul-Fitr expected around 20 March, the federation called for Eid bonuses to be paid in accordance with labour law before the festival, noting that while employees in various levels of the state structure regularly receive these bonuses, workers in the retail sector continue to be excluded.
The federation placed a seven-point demand, which includes ensuring payment of Eid bonuses in all retail establishments in line with legal provisions, payment of fair overtime allowances for extra working hours, the mandatory issuance of appointment letters, and the provision of employer-signed identity cards.
The demands also encompass implementation of one and a half days of weekly leave, urgent formation of a wage board to determine salaries and allowances to facilitate collective bargaining, and ensuring timely payment of wages as stipulated by law.
Amirul Haque Amin, the federation’s general secretary, stated that during Ramadan, many employees are compelled to work between 12 and 16 hours instead of the standard eight-hour workday.
He added that workers are also required to work on weekly holidays, yet in most cases, no overtime allowance is paid.
To press home these demands, the organisation announced fresh programmes, including submitting memorandums to the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments under the Ministry of Labour, and the Bangladesh Employers’ Federation.
The press conference was chaired by the federation’s President, Md Rafiqul Islam, with solidarity expressed by ASM Zakaria, a leader of the Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad.
