The government is planning to provide monetary assistance worth Tk3000 per month to every worker of garments, footwear and leather industry who lost their job during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Labour and Employment Ministry already issued new Social Safety Net Rules 2020 on October 7 in a bid to facilitate cash assistance for the affected workers.
"Under the scheme, every jobless worker will receive maximum Tk 3000 per month for three months. If the workers manage to employ themselves in their workplace, cash assistance will be curtailed from that month." said the circular.
To implement the programme, an eight member committee will be formed headed by a Member Secretary nominated by the Department of Labour.
Export oriented industries are playing a big role in country's economy where workers are the frontline fighters but they face hardship when they lose job because of accident or illness and in some cases they fall below the poverty line.
Covid-19 cast a dark shadow in our economy and caused many workers to lose their jobs thereby making their life unbearable.
Thousands of workers were furloughed in the pandemic as demand of export in main export destinations like Europe and North American countries plummeted because of the shockwave of coronavirus pandemic.
Covid-19 forced many factories of garments, leather and footwear to either lay off or temporary suspend production causing huge financial loss to entrepreneur and workers.
Under the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, workers will receive financial benefit if production is halted temporarily or closed sine die.
Despite receiving service benefits, many workers are living a miserable life due to lack of job opportunities in the prolonged shutdown enforced by the coronavirus pandemic.
Commenting on this initiative, State Minister for Labor And Employment Begum Munnojan Sufian said, "Coronavirus pandemic had taken toll on the employment of workers who are currently living a miserable life. We have taken initiatives to give them monetary help for three months. We are working on it and asked the finance ministry to allocate required funds."
sh/wi
