In line with the amended 2013 labour law that suggests separate sector-wise welfare funds for the workers of the country’s export-oriented sectors, the labour ministry of Bangladesh has formed a 10-member board to monitor the central fund to be created for the country’s garment workers.
A circular to this effect was issued on March 27. The board was formed more than six months after the rules were published.
The state minister for labour will chair the board, while the labour secretary and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Md Siddiqur Rahman will be the Vice-Chairman.
The other owners’ representatives of the board are AKM Salim Osman, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Mohammed Nasir and Mahmud Hasan Khan vice-presidents of BGMEA. Sukkur Mahmud, president of Jatiya Sramik League, Nazma Akter, president of Sammilito Garment Sramik Federation, and Badrudozza Nizam, general secretary of Garment Tailors Workers League, will represent the board from workers’ side.
According to Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar, “The board has been formed to govern the RMG sector workers’ welfare fund and the first meeting of the board will also be convened shortly.”
The rule mandates that all export-oriented industry will share 0.03 per cent of each of their export receipts in the proposed fund. The board meeting will decide the next course of actions to be taken for the creation of funds, starting with the largest foreign currency earner – RMG sector, percolating down to other export oriented sectors.
Furthermore, the rule talks of two accounts-beneficiaries welfare and contingency, which will be operated under the fund on a 50:50 share basis.
