Staff Reporter :
The workers, who have lost their jobs or their income fell in export oriented sectors during the ongoing pandemic, are not getting cash assistance as the manufactures are yet to show interest to pay it.
The government in cooperation with EU and Germany formed a fund worth Tk 1,135 crore (113 million euros) to provide cash assistance to the workers in the export-oriented industries adversely affected by the economic fallout of the pandemic.
The government also made a policy identifying eight criteria for determining affected workers. The Labour and Employment Ministry has published a policy gazette notification in this regard on October 8.
According to the policy, a list of the eligible workers should be prepared and the primary responsibility for compiling with the list lies with the respective factories as well as the four business associations.
But the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and the Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leathergoods and Footwear Exporters Association (BFLLFEA) are yet to take any initiative to prepare the list.
On the other hand, the Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) have made the list, but did not formally submit it to the Department of Labor.
And the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has completed its responsibility with sending a notice to the member factories, sources said.
As per the gazette, the workers worked till last February, physically disabled, infected with coronary or any other disease, workers who are not eligible for compensation under labour law, currently unemployed, laid-off factory workers and the workers who lost their jobs after March 8 are eligible for the assistance. But the workers are yet to get any assistance from the fund due to the non-cooperation attitude of the factory owners, ministry sources said.
The workers, who have lost their jobs or their income fell in export oriented sectors during the ongoing pandemic, are not getting cash assistance as the manufactures are yet to show interest to pay it.
The government in cooperation with EU and Germany formed a fund worth Tk 1,135 crore (113 million euros) to provide cash assistance to the workers in the export-oriented industries adversely affected by the economic fallout of the pandemic.
The government also made a policy identifying eight criteria for determining affected workers. The Labour and Employment Ministry has published a policy gazette notification in this regard on October 8.
According to the policy, a list of the eligible workers should be prepared and the primary responsibility for compiling with the list lies with the respective factories as well as the four business associations.
But the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and the Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leathergoods and Footwear Exporters Association (BFLLFEA) are yet to take any initiative to prepare the list.
On the other hand, the Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) have made the list, but did not formally submit it to the Department of Labor.
And the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has completed its responsibility with sending a notice to the member factories, sources said.
As per the gazette, the workers worked till last February, physically disabled, infected with coronary or any other disease, workers who are not eligible for compensation under labour law, currently unemployed, laid-off factory workers and the workers who lost their jobs after March 8 are eligible for the assistance. But the workers are yet to get any assistance from the fund due to the non-cooperation attitude of the factory owners, ministry sources said.
