Content:

Page no. Topic

2 Abstract & Keywords
3 Introduction, Name of the institution,
Establishment year, Area of the industry,
Causes behind development of the
industry, Availability of labor,
Environment, Number of employees
4 Wages & salaries, Working hours &
overtime, Bonuses, Nature of the work,
Working environment, Health facility or
security, Division of labor, Education
5 Basic needs, Gender inequality,
Fulfillment of basic needs
6 Conclusion

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Abstract: This is study about a small industry named Atlas Sea Food Industry which
is situated in Rupsha, Khulna. In this study some factors regarding this industry is
highlighted. Such as, Causes of develop, labor, environment, wages, overtime &
bonus, health facility, fulfillment of basic needs etc. There also drawn a picture of
recent aspects of fish processing industries of our country.

Key words:

Small industry Environment

Wage Overtime
Health Division of labor
Gender inequality Basic need

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Introduction: Small industries are one of the most important factors in the
economic process of Bangladesh. This sector is playing a vital role on our economy
beside large industries. There are many small industries of various types in our
country. Atlas Sea Food Industry, Khulna, is one of them. This is a report on Atlas Sea
Food Industry regarding some basic aspects. In this report, there focused various
issues such as wage, labor, working facility, environment, gender inequality, heath
situation & so on.

Name of the institution: Atlas Sea Food Industries, Rupsha, Khulna.

Establishment year: 1990.

Area of the industry: The total area of the industry is 300 ft by 400 ft. It is
situated on the bank of Rupsha River.

Causes behind development of the industry: As it is situated on the bank of

Rupsha River, it is more suited to develop the industry on this location. The
transportation & communication system is very developed & easier than other areas.
As a result the new materials & produced foods are easier carried through both high
way & by river way. As it is a fish industry, its raw materials are available here
because it its known to all that the southern part of the Khulna district is well
renowned as the land of shrimp cultivation. So the industry gets more raw materials
available ready at hand & can produce available product in all the year.

Availability of labor: The another cause of developing this industry here is the
availability of cheap labor. Because a huge number of people are involved with fish
producing work. They have a clear idea about the work.

Environment: The environment of the area is suitable for running a food

processing industry because the all necessary raw materials & other equipments can
be easily drawn from this area. After all this industry is sustainable for this
environment.

Number of employees: There are about 150 people works in this industry. From
them about 130 work as laborer, 5 supervisors, 3 managers, 1 cashier, 5 guards, 2

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conductors. Most of the workers work here as temporary laborer & rest are
permanent.

Wages & salaries: Wages & salaries are dependent on working status of the
employees. The workers get their salaries on the basis of the scale that are given to the
4tb class govt. employees. They get their salaries monthly.

Working hours & overtime: In this industry the general working hour for
employees is 8 hours. All the day is divided into 3 equal shifts of 8 hours. Every
worker is changed after working 1 shift. If any worker wishes to work overtime, he
will be accepted to do so.

Bonuses: They have the opportunity to get bonus 2 times in a year.

Nature of the work: Some of the workers have to lose the heads from body of the
shrimps & then some others have to mix ice with the bodies. Then some other are
engaged in packaging the bodies. Then it is finally processed for exporting.

Working environment: Though there is waste disposal system, the working

environment in this industry is not healthy for the workers. The raw materials create
odor & it is very harmful for the workers health. Beside for food processing ammonia
gas is used which is also harmful for human health. For example, in Achia Fish
Industry 3 men were died in gas explosion.

Health facility or security: Health facility of this industry is very much low. The
workers are attacked by various kinds of diseases in different times. The workers also
suffer malnutrition & ill health. There is a possibility of exploration of boils, & it
causes dead to workers. If any worker get injured or died, the authority bears the
treatment cost fully or partly or gives a definite amount of money to the workers
family.

Division of labor: As a worker has to do a definite job, so division of labor exists

here. As a result the workers have no equal idea of working in all sections. I t creates a
bad impact on workers. Division of labor is defined by age, sex, & working
experience. There is no scope of child labor.

Education: The education level of the workers is very low. The average education
level of the workers is primary level. Although there are some workers having

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secondary or higher secondary education, but they are very few in number. The
female workers education level is not higher than primary level.

Basic needs: There are some common basic needs of workers which are necessary
for all workers, such as: food, housing, education, medical, cloth, recreation etc. But
unfortunately it is true that the most of needs of the workers in this industry is never
fulfils or fulfilled.

Gender inequality: There is a big gender inequality seen among the workers in
this industry. The male workers are always highlighted in every aspect & even female
workers shows better performance that male workers, they didnt get any extra
facilities for their performance. & the wage is also differs from male to female. There
is a difference about 30-40 taka between the wage of male & female workers at daily
rate.

Fulfillment of basic needs: Except some employees most of the workers cannot
fulfill their basic needs. As it is discussed previously in below it is expanded:

Food: food is the main basic need of people which is very essential. But most
of the workers in this industry cant fulfill their basic need of food. They cant
get nutrious food or balance diet which is very essential for good health. Most
of the workers of this industry live their life in hand to mouth. They suffer
from malnutrition. Even some time they are to strive. For this reason, their
living standard is low & most of them live below the poverty line.
Housing: A better housing facility is the indication of standard living. But
most of the workers of this industry live in a low quality house or slum area
which is very harmful for their health. Most of the workers cant live in a
moderate or standard type of house by their income what they get from the
industry. Most of the slum area of our country is not health hygienic. & most
of the people here suffer from various kinds of diseases such as typhoid,
diarrhea, cholera dysentery etc.
Education: Education is the most important basic needs of human being. As
most of the workers of our country are not well educated, they cant
understand the benefits or necessity of education or they have no capability to
educate their children. Beside the cost of education is very high. Though most
of the children of these families go to school in primary level, they hope to

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 band their education or drop out from school because of poverty. To support
their family income, these children have to involve child labor by drooping out
education. This create the increase of illiterate people in our country & as well
as child labor.

Conclusion: So, now we can draw conclusion from the above analysis report on
Atlas Sea Food Industries, Khulna, that it is a typical small industry as like most of
our country. The picture of environment, division of labor, health, gender inequality,
facilities, security, basic needs like education, food, housing etc. are as usual from the
old time in our country we got. There is a huge mismanagement regarding these
issues. As a result, the favorable environment to run such industries in our country is
spoiling day by day. If this situation continues, small industries like food processing
will be mislay in the black hole of tome. So, proper steps should be taken by
government & related authorities to change this situation.