Labour and Employment Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan stated that while pension benefits and social security systems exist in various employment sectors, there has been no such provision for the garment industry.
"Our vision is to launch a pension scheme for garment workers. Although it will take time, I want to initiate this project so that future governments can implement it," he said on Wednesday (16 October) at the inauguration ceremony of the sale of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) products for industrial workers at Jaber & Jubair Fabrics Ltd in the Tongi Pagar area of Gazipur.
The adviser further added that after accepting the workers' 18 demands, the government has, for the first time, launched the distribution of TCB products at fair prices for garment workers.
A package containing 5 kg of rice, 2 kg of lentils, and 2 litres of soybean oil is being sold to garment workers at the cost of Tk470. This initiative aims to alleviate the workers' financial burdens and ensure that the garment sector's production remains uninterrupted.
He also acknowledged the labour unrest that the government faced shortly after assuming responsibility, attributing it partially to external forces.
"We have repeatedly held discussions with workers' leaders and owners, and on the 24th of last month, we finalised the 18 demands. We are optimistic that all issues within this sector will soon be resolved," he stated confidently.
Adviser Asif Mahmud further remarked, "Despite rampant corruption and looting in the country, the economy remains stable thanks to the garment industry. After a long struggle, we have assumed responsibility, and every day we face numerous challenges. External forces have been involved in the recent labour unrest, and those responsible will be brought to justice."
The event, presided over by the President of the BGMEA, Khandaker Rafiqul Islam, was attended by notable guests including Commerce Secretary Mohammad Selim Uddin, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment AHM Shafiquzzaman, Chairman of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) Brigadier General Md Mostafa Iqbal, Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Nafisa Arifin, Chairman of Noman Group AHM Rafiqul Islam, as well as senior officials from the factory and related government departments.
On Wednesday, TCB products were distributed to 1,000 workers at the factory, and it was later announced that the programme would be expanded in phases to cover all 13,000 workers of the factory.
The authorities mentioned that Tk470 would be deducted monthly from workers' salaries to cover the cost of the TCB products.
