bKash to disburse labour ministry’s stipends to children

Ministry of Labour and Employment will disburse stipends to the risk-ridden children through bKash in a bid to eradicate hazardous child labour through non-formal education and skill development.

An agreement was signed in this regard between the Ministry of Labour and Employment and bKash at a city hotel on Monday, bKash said in a statement.

The Eradication of Hazardous Child Labour Project Director Md Monowar Hossain and bKash CEO Kamal Quadir signed the agreement.

Under this project, a monthly stipend of Tk 1,000 will be provided to each of the 1 lakh children and Tk 13,000 will be given to 10,000 child labourers as seed money through bKash.

Beneficiaries can cash out the stipend money without any cost from their guardian’s bKash account. 112 non-governmental organisations have been working as partners to implement this project.

Labour and Employment Ministry Secretary Md Ehsan-E-Elahi chaired the agreement-signing ceremony while State Minister Begum Monnujan Sufian was present as the chief guest. 

In her remarks, Begum Monnujan Sufian said, “With the boon of digitalisation efforts of the government, technology has advanced so much that now we get the message of receiving money through bKash, sitting at home. The workers are also included in bKash’s 60 million customer base. As a result of today’s agreement with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the stipends will reach the bKash account of every student’s guardian directly. The entire process ensures transparency.”