State Minister for Labour and Employment M Mujibul Haq Chunnu yesterday said the government has taken initiatives to introduce safety insurance for labourers, reports BSS. The labour ministry will launch a pilot project in November with a view to bringing working people of all strata under the safety net and a high-level committee has already been formed in this regard, he said speaking at a press conference at the labour ministry conference room. Labour and Employment Secretary Mikail Shipur and senior officials concerned were present at the press conference held over the experience gathered by a 24-member government delectation that took part in a month-long training programme in Germany on labour safety and insurance. The state minister said Germany appreciates the steps taken for development of garment industry in Bangladesh. A high-level delegation from Germany will visit Bangladesh in November, he added. Mujibul Haq Chunnu said Germany is the second biggest importer of Bangladeshi garments after the United States. Therefore, Germany is eager to extend cooperation to ensure safety and rights of garment workers, he added. He said there will be no problem for the garment workers to get salaries and bonuses during the forthcoming Eid-ul-Azha. The state Minister said the draft of the Labour Act has already been finalized and it will be published in a gazette in the next week. Labour and Employment Secretary Mikhail Shipper said a total of Taka 106 crore has been deposited in Sramik Kalyan Foundation. Workers in newspaper industry would also get benefits of the fund, he added.
