Government of Bangladesh has reportedly decided to collect 0.03 per cent of freight on board prices from the readymade garment (RMG) factory owners for the central fund formed for the export-oriented RMG sector as per the labour rules.
The money collected from the garment manufacturers would reportedly be deposited in equal proportions in contingency (amount deposited in the contingency account will be used to meet the dues of workers of any closed factory if the concerned owner fails to pay the workers) and beneficiary (grants for workers or their family members will be taken from the beneficiary account) accounts.
Also Read – Bangladeshi Govt. forges separate panel for garment workers’ fund
From the beneficiary account, workers would reportedly get up to BDT 3 lakh for death or permanent disability due to accident at workplace, and up to BDT 2 lakh for illness.
The end-decision was reached at by the 10-member board formed to manage the fund at its first-ever meeting held at the Ministry of Labour and Employment recently, which also decided to open two accounts with Bangladesh Bank where the contributions will be deposited.
According to BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman, who is one of the Vice-Chairmen (ex-officio) of the board, the central fund management committee decided to collect the fund from July 1. “In the first-ever meeting of the board, we have decided to open accounts with the Bangladesh Bank and the contribution of the owners will start from July 1,” maintained Senior Labour and Employment Secretary Mikail Shipar, adding, “The next course of action including the areas for using the funds will be decided in the next meeting.”
