The government is going to start paying dues to the workers of closed BJMC (Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation) jute mills from Tuesday (September 14). In the first phase, workers of Karim Jute Mills in Demra thana of Dhaka will receive their dues.
Package payments of dues will be paid to 2,371 workers. Among them, 612 workers who have retired normally will also get their pension money.
According to the Ministry of Finance and Textiles and Jute Ministry sources, the process of sending money to the workers in their banks will start on Tuesday.
Furthermore, half of the total debt will be paid through savings certificates.
Necessary funds of 114 crore taka have been allocated from the Ministry of Finance for the first phase workers.
The payment of dues to the workers of the remaining mills will be completed by September this year.
Abdur Rauf, Chairman of BJMC, the regulator of state-owned jute mills, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi had promised to pay all workers' dues by September.
As per that promise, the workers of other mills will also be paid within the remaining few days of this month. Money is being disbursed from the Ministry of Finance against certain jute mills.
He said the workers who used to work on a temporary basis are owed very little. Many of them worked only a few hours a day. However, whatever the amount, what they deserve will be explained in their payment, he said.
According to BJMC sources, there were about 5,000 workers in Karim Jute Mills. 1,759 of them worked before it was closed. The number of workers who had already retired was 612. A total of 114 crore taka has been allocated for these 2,371 workers.
Of this amount, half of the total due per worker will be sent to their bank accounts. They will get the other half in the form of savings certificates. In both cases the money due will be handed over to the workers.
It is learned that the rest of the 2,625 workers were working on a temporary or contract basis. Their dues, not a big amount, will be paid soon.
ask/zn
