In a desperate bid to settle scores before December 22 when different trade bodies begin work stoppage, the government began talks yesterday to appease workers

Jute Minister Brig Hannan Shah (Retd) and the leaders of the Patkal Sramik Karma chart Sangram Parlshad held be hind-the-scene discussions yesterday. The parts had is demanding implementation of its six-point demand.

The Sramik Karmachari Olkya Parlshad has also called a 48-hour strike beginning the same day to press for its five point demand.

The Cotton and Textile Sramik Karmachari Federation Is also scheduled to start a 72 hour barricade programme from December 22 to realise its eight point demand.

The basic demands of these bodies are identical. These include the fixation of minimum wage at Taka 1400. repeal of labour laws that go against the Interests of workers and dena tionalizatlon of public sector enterprises.

The Jute, textile and cotton workers have already observed a 24-hour blockade of roads and railways on October 28 and then again a 48-hour barricade on November 25 and 26. They have again announced a 72-hour programme starting from December 22.

Major political parties have expressed their solidarity with the workers' demands The left leaning Five party alliance has offered to broker an agreement.

The Five-party alliance, sources say. will discuss the is-

sues with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) on December 19. The FBCCI opposes government's talks with the trade unions.

As part of government attempts to cool down the workers. Labour and Manpower Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan will hold talks with the SKOP leaders today at 10 am at his office, and the Textile Minister Major AMul Mannan (retd) will sit with the leaders of the Cotton and Textile Sramik Karmachari Feder ation on December 14.

The Jute Minister who liad , talks with the leaders of the Jute mills workers told The Daily Star that the government would announce the wage commission on any day before December 16.

The Labour and Manpower Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, however, told this correspondent that the government would try to include the representatives from the workers in the wage commission which will fix the wage for the workers. Although he declined to give any hints about the amount of minimum wage, the minister said that the amount would not be less than Taka nine hundred.

According to a highly placed source both the Jute Minister and the leaders of Jute mills workers in Wednesday's meeting have reached a verbal agreement that no decision on denationalisation of Jute industries would be taken without consulting the workers.

The Jute Minister would again discuss the matters with the leaders today at 11 am.