News Desk :
The government has said in a circular that all the arrears of industrial workers such as salaries and festival allowances, will be paid within the 20th of Ramadan.
It was also decided that factory authorities will pay workers 15 days’ salary for March per their respective capacity.
Highlighting the decisions taken at the 85th meeting of the Tripartite Consultative Council, or TCC, the notice said on Thursday that the law-enforcing agencies would “actively monitor” the overall situation, including the payment of workers’ dues, reports Reuters.
Besides, the banks linked to the workers’ payment will remain open on Mar 28 and 29 in the industrial area, according to the notice.
The workers of BHIS Apparels Ltd in the Tongi Ershadnagar area of Gazipur city staged a demonstration by blocking the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway on Tuesday morning demanding their outstanding salaries.
Earlier on Sunday evening, workers of Pratik Apparels Ltd held a protest by blocking the Dhaka-Aricha Highway at the Ulail Bus Stopage area in Savar, pressing a similar demand.
The TCC meeting was held to review the labour situation, salaries, allowances, holidays, and other issues tied to the industrial workers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Labour Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman presided over the meeting, attended by labourers, factory owners, and representatives of the government such as ministries, industrial area police, the army, officials of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, and the Department of Labour.
The decisions taken at the meeting included: no worker would be fired or laid off before Eid, the factory authorities and the workers’ representatives will discuss and decide the timing of the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
Besides, the Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, and Bangladesh Bank will be asked to take necessary steps to pay the money owed to the government by the owners of readymade garment manufacturers and exporters, including BGMEA and BKMEA.
A central “monitoring cell” will be formed under the leadership of the additional secretary of the labour and employment ministry, along with representatives of the factory owners to oversee the overall situation.
