New pay scale for EPZ workers soon: Bepza

A new pay scale of international standard will be formed for the workers in the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) soon, said Bepza Executive Chairman Brig Gen Ashraf Abdullah Yussuf.
A Workers Association (WA) is being launched in each zone in line with the EPZ Labour Association and Industry Relation Act 2004 aimed at ensuring welfare of the workers, according to the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) chief.
He made the comments while briefing journalists about Bepza's recent performance and future plans in Dhaka yesterday.
Brigadier Yussuf said the total investment in 264 industrial units in eight EPZs in the first half of the current fiscal stood at US$129.85 million, while the total export volume was US$1076.96 million.
Over two lakh workers have so far got employment opportunities in the EPZs, he said, adding that the salary of the workers has also increased satisfactorily.
The Bepza executive chairman said the authority achieved its ultimate target of product diversification, of which 26 percent are RMG and the rest are textiles, metal, plastic and papers.
"Now we are giving special emphasis on textiles for accelerating export earnings," he added.
He said the foreign investors are showing their keen interest to invest in the EPZs due to easily trainable workforce.
The country needs to set up 25 more EPZs to meet the growing demand of the foreign investors, he observed.
Bepza Secretary BM Kamal and Member (investment and promotion) Prashanta Bhushan Barua were also present among others.