Govt to bring all industries under central welfare fund: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said all manufacturing and exporting industries would be brought under the central welfare fund of the labour and employment ministry
The fund has been created to provide financial support to the families of the workers who die or receive grave injuries in their workplaces.
"We have already given instructions to the commerce ministry to bring all garments exporters under the central fund," Hasina said.
The prime minister was distributing cheques for compensation among the crippled garment workers and family members of the deceased garment workers from a fund created by the garment sector at her office in the capital.
The fund has been created with 0.03 percent of the export volume of the industries under Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association for the welfare of the workers of the export oriented garment sector.
A garment worker or his/her heirs would get Tk 3 lakh from the fund in case of death or grave injuries during their work. In case of any decomposition or death outside the working place, a worker would get Tk 2 lakh from the fund.
The prime minister extended her thanks to the BGMEA and BKMEA for their 'epoch-making' steps for the welfare of the garment workers. “It's a good start,” she said.
She urged the apex bodies of the garment and knitting sectors to complete the work on preparing a database of the workers to ensure easy disbursement of financial support from the fund.
State Minister for Labour and Employment Md Mojibul Haque Chunnu and BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman also spoke.
President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Mohiuddin Ahmed, PM's Principal Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser and acting secretary of the Labour Ministry Afroza Khan were also present.
The prime minister hoped that the owners of the garment industries would continue their stride for the welfare of the workers and give them a share of their annual profits as the workers are the main instrument to keep their industries operational.
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