The much-awaited European Union’s cash support programme, which aims to offer financial assistance to workers of garment, leather and footwear sectors who lost their jobs on account of the coronavirus pandemic, is all set to materialise now.
As per media reports, State Minister for Labour and Employment Monnujan Sufian on 22 December (Tuesday) inaugurated the social security programme for the workers in capital Dhaka as part of which workers will receive Taka 3,000 per month in the form of financial assistance.
In the phase, 1,794 workers will get the cash assistance for a period of 3 months even as the number of beneficiaries is expected to be increased subsequently.
As part of the programme, any worker (including lactating mothers), who was employed in any active member factory of the Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB), the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BFLLFEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), up until February 2020, is eligible for the grant.
The EU, which is the largest export destination for ‘Made in Bangladesh’ products including readymade garments, announced €113 million grant to pay 3 months of wages to around 1 million workers of these three export-oriented industries, who have lost their jobs on account of the pandemic.
As per the concerned ministry, it submitted a list of 7,390 workers for the said programme, out of which 1,894 have been finalised. The rest are undergoing selections, it claimed while State Minister for Labour and Employment, reportedly, went on to urge development partners and the international community to come forward with more financial support for the workers if the pandemic fallout prolongs.
