Cabinet for trade union in RMG sector

The cabinet on Monday approved in principle a proposal to amend the Labour Law to allow readymade garment (RMG) sector workers the rights of trade union.

Currently, the RMG workers can form unions only with prior permission from the owners.

Several policies regarding the safety and welfare of the RMG workers and their safety in the factories would be kept in the law, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said after the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet.

The proposed policies include a provision one month gratuity for a worker if he or she works in a factory for less than 15 years and keeping factory exit paths open.

The proposals also include provision for forming workers’ welfare fund through enacting a separate policy for them.

The approval came at the weekly cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The cabinet also approved Brick Building Control Act-2013 and Vested Property Return (Amendment) Act-2013.