DHAKA, Apr 27, 2021 (BSS) – State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian today said the government has provided medical facilities to 30,241 workers since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Health services are being provided to the workers by the physicians of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments and the Department of Labour. Doctors of the Labour Welfare Centre under the Labour Department have provided healthcare facilities to 30,241 workers since the onset of the pandemic,” she told a virtual press conference.
The press conference was arranged on the occasions of the National Occupational Safety and Health Day and the May Day 2021.
Monnujan said the government has been able to keep the wheel of the country’s economy smooth by retaining the factory production operational following health guidelines, due to the courageous and timely decision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in dealing with the ongoing global pandemic.
At the onset of the global pandemic, she said, the prime minister gave special importance to the lives and livelihoods of the working class people.
The state minister said at first, the premier ensured incentives or loan assistance for the owners of export-oriented industries so that they can give salaries and allowances of the workers.
“She (the prime minister) instructed us to take social protection schemes considering the workers, who lost their jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” she added.
Monnujan said as per the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Taka 1,500 crore were allocated for the jobless workers of export-oriented garment and leather industries under the social safety net programme, with support from the European Union (EU) and Germany.
“A total of Taka 5.48 crore has been given so far from this allocation for providing three-month salary of 6,031 workers. This is an ongoing process,” she added.
The state minister said at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic last year, the Labour Minister formed 23 crisis management committees at field level involving representatives from the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, the Labour Department, owners and workers.
“To address the second wave of coronavirus pandemic this year, I have repeatedly instructed the committees to relentlessly conduct awareness activities to ensure the health safety of the workers and keep the production of factories operational,” she added.
Monnujan also informed that Taka 41.32 crore has been given as assistance for the workers of both formal and informal sectors from the fund of Bangladesh Labour Welfare Foundation formed under her ministry.
Labour and Employment Secretary KM Abdus Salam, Additional Secretary of the ministry Dr Md Rezaul Haque, Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Md Nasir Uddin Ahmed and acting Director General of Labour Department Md Abdul Latif Khan, among others, joined the press conference.