No layoffs for at least a year: WPB
Workers' Party of Bangladesh (WPB) yesterday proposed that no job cut should take place at factories and other sectors for at least a year, due to the coronavirus outbreak.
During the ongoing shutdown to prevent the virus from spreading, people are losing work, while those who live hand to mouth are the hardest hit, said a statement of WPB, a component of the ruling 14-party alliance.
Due to the virus pandemic, readymade garments sector is already facing cancellation of work orders, it said.
The WPB politburo, in a WhatsApp meeting, proposed for providing incentives to entrepreneurs of factories and others.
It called for united leadership of political parties, social organisations and people's representatives to face the crisis.
Inflow of remittance will come down sharply as many Bangladeshi migrant workers have returned home and many more will need to do so, it added.
As a result, national income will take a nosedive and that will create huge pressure on employment opportunities. Bangladesh will not be able to avoid effect of worldwide recession, the party said.
At the meeting, it said the primary responsibilities of fighting coronavirus should be handed to epidemiologists, virologists, microbiologists and physicians instead of bureaucrats at health services.
"Personal safety of physicians, health workers and health assistants should be ensured first. They have to be brought under insurance coverage," WPB said, further demanding that "indiscriminate uses of PPE should be stopped".
The government should ensure fair prices of rice and other essentials, and purchase paddy directly from farmers, the party demanded. Employment opportunities should be created, otherwise unemployment allowances have to be given, it said.
The left leaning political party made the calls after two more coronavirus-infected persons died in 24 hours till yesterday, raising the death toll to eight, according to Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
The total number of confirmed cases in the country so far is 70, said IEDCR.
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