Politicians, labour leaders and professionals on Friday urged the government to recognise the drivers of private cars as workers and give them the right to form trade unions.
They made the demand at a rally organised by the Dhaka Private Car Drivers鈥� Union in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka to mark the first anniversary of the organisation.
The organisation鈥檚 adviser and Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki said that driving private cars had become a specific profession but they were yet to be recognised workers.
He said that private car drivers were serving the owners but they did not get official recognition as workers and they were not included in the labour law.
He urged the government to recognise them as workers and give them the right to form trade unions.
Addressing the rally, the private care drivers placed five demands, including setting Tk 25,000 as their monthly minimum wage, providing weekly holidays and appointment letters, ensuring fixed working hours and job security, granting official recognition as workers, and allowing them to register their union.
Dhaka Private Car Drivers鈥� Union president Mohammad Shahid, addressing the rally as the chair, said that his organisation would work for establishing the rights of the private car drivers.
Trade Union Federation acting president Taslima Akhter, labour leader Bachchu Bhuiyan and lawyer Bilkis Nasima Rahman, among others, also addressed the rally
The rally was followed by a procession that paraded different city roads.聽