The High Court yesterday directed the government to strictly enforce relevant laws and rules prohibiting workers from carrying a potato bag weighing over 50 kilograms in cold storages across the country.

The bench of Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Salim delivered the verdict following a writ petition seeking its directive on the government for appropriate enforcement of Section 74 of Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 or section 63 of Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015.

Poba Upazila Load Unload Kuli Sramik Union, an organisation of labourers at the upazila in Rajshahi, filed the petition with the HC in February last year after several workers were injured and a worker died after they were compelled to carry potato bags beyond permissible weight limits in cold storages, petitioner's lawyer Barrister Suhan Khan told The Daily Star.

In order to ensure enforcement of the weight limit on potato bags in cold storages, the HC also issued six directives to the government and asked it to submit a report to the HC in four months after complying with the directives.

The directives include conducting necessary investigations or examinations for ascertaining any violation of the relevant laws or rules that prohibit carrying a potato bag exceeding 50kg by an adult male or 30kg by an adult female in cold storages across the country, Barrister Suhan added. 

Upon receipt of any complaint regarding violation of the law or the rule, it asked the government to carry out an investigation within 10 (ten) working days and to direct the parties concerned to take action as per law.

The HC ordered the authorities concerned of the government to submit complaints to the labour court against any unfair labour practices violating the weight limit of potato bags.

The court asked them to prepare information materials -- containing laws, rules, rights of workers and procedures of filing a complaint -- for distribution and publication and organise workshops to create mass awareness among all stakeholders as well as the general public.

The HC also asked them to ensure taking necessary actions and submission of reports to the respondents when grave consequences arise due to “dangerous operations” through lifting, carrying and moving of potato bags heavier than the permissible weight limit by workers in cold storages, Barrister Suhan said.