Apparel owners on Wednesday agreed to give 0.03 per cent of their total export earnings which stand at Tk 72crore annually to the Bangladesh Labour Welfare Foundation. The money will be used for the welfare of workers. Following a series of meetings between the apparel owners and the government, Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon. “The government finalized the Labour Rules-2015 for enforcement of Bangladesh Labour Law (Amendment) Bill 2013″ at a meeting at Probashi Kalyan Bhaban in the city. Apparel owners and senior ministers of the government were present in the meeting,” he said. Under the rules, if workers are injured or killed in accidents, they will get Tk two lakh each from the welfare fund. The joint meeting was presided over by Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain. Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and State Minister for Labour and Employment Mojibul Haque Chunnu, among others, were present on the occasion. The law was passed on July 15, 2013 in Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) through amendments to the Labour Act 2006. After enactment of the amended law, a government committee was formed (chaired by the expatriates welfare and overseas employment minister) to discuss with labour leaders to finalize the draft labour rules. Before finalizing the law the government sat with all stakeholders including workers and owners of factories and industries to take their opinions. “Government enacted the labour law 2013, which has drawn appreciation from all over the world,” the Commerce Minister claimed.
Source: https://www.observerbd.com/2015/05/07/87512.php#sthash.CepypjaH.dpuf
