POBNEWS24, Desk report, Dec 8, 2021: In today’s competitive world, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emphasized on good owner-worker relations to keep the industrial production system afloat as well as increase the pace of exports.
The Prime Minister said, “I will always make a request to all, including our bosses and workers, that the bosses and workers should have a cordial relationship.”
He said this while addressing as the chief guest at the ‘Green Factory Award-2020’ distribution ceremony at an eco-friendly industrial establishment on Wednesday morning.
The Prime Minister participated in the main event organized by the Ministry of Labor and Employment at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital from Ganobhaban with the help of virtual video conferencing.
Sheikh Hasina said the owners should always keep in mind that these workers keep their factories running with their labor and make way for earning money. At the same time, workers need to keep in mind that these factories enable them to work and earn a living, support their families or earn a living. Therefore, if the factory does not run, they will lose themselves.
He said to the workers, “You have to take care of the factory which provides you with food and livelihood.”
He also referred to the environmental degradation of industrial establishments and said that many times we see some labor leaders from outside or some quarters provoking and trying to create a turbulent environment.
The Prime Minister said one thing to keep in mind is that now the world is competitive. In this competitive world, if factories, production and exports are to run smoothly, then factories must be run properly. And if there is a turbulent environment, then there will be no working conditions as exports will stop and they will lose their jobs. And then we have to go around with the curse of unemployment. With that in mind, workers also have an important role to play. Therefore, the employer-worker relationship is very important here. Owners will have to look after the advantages and disadvantages of the workers, ensure fair value of labor and proper working environment as well as the workers will have the responsibility to keep the factory running smoothly and increase production, he said.
The Ministry of Labor and Employment presents this award to 30 organizations or factories in 7 industries. The companies include 15 factories in the garment sector, three in the food processing sector and four in the tea industry, two in the leather industry, three in the plastics industry and three in the pharmaceutical industry.
The ‘Green Factory Award, 2020’ has been introduced to accelerate and sustain the pace of the country’s economy, build the golden Bengal of the Father of the Nation and motivate the local industries to compete in the world. On behalf of the Prime Minister, State Minister for Labor and Employment Begum Mannujan Sufian handed over the Green Factory Award 2020 to the officials of 30 industries.
Each organization or factory nominated as a prize received a crest, medal, certificate and a check for Rs 1 lakh. From now on, this award will be given every year. Later, the Prime Minister inaugurated six newly constructed buildings and a virtual building of Shramjibi Mahila Hostel and Shram Kalyan Kendra.
Secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Employment. Elahane Elahi delivered the welcome address on the occasion. A video on the development work of the ministry was also presented at the event.
The establishments inaugurated by the Prime Minister are: Women Welfare Hostel at Narayanganj Port and Labor Welfare Center with 5-bed hospital facilities, 6-storey Industrial Relations Educational Building in Chittagong, Regional Labor Office with 5-storey building in Narayanganj, Labor Welfare Building with 3-storey building in Bogra. Regional Labor Department, 3-storey labor welfare center at Gaibandha, 3-storey labor welfare center at Mongla, Bagerhat, 4-storey labor welfare center at Rupsha, Khulna and labor welfare complex at Ghagra, Rangamati.
Highlighting the significant aspects of various steps taken by her government in improving the living standards of working people and expanding trade and commerce, the Prime Minister said 1 lakh 7 thousand 6 small and big industries were set up in the country during the 1996-2001 period of the government. It provided employment to millions of people. At that time, besides opening up the private sector, he also mentioned the establishment of employment bank.
He said, “In 2009, we formed the government and fixed the minimum wage for the working people working in 42 industrial sectors.” The minimum wage (scale-based) for workers in state-owned industries has been increased from Tk 4,150 to Tk 7,300 and the minimum wage (scale-based) for workers in readymade garment factories has been gradually increased from Tk 1,062 to Tk 6,000.
In addition, the Workers’ Welfare Foundation has so far provided financial assistance of Tk. 43.28 crore to 10,985 workers and their families and has set up a central fund for socio-economic development of the families of the workers. He also informed about providing financial assistance of 106 crore 13 lakh 80 thousand 982 taka.
Mentioning that the government has ensured equal pay for women, Sheikh Hasina said, “We are constructing dormitories for women workers in different parts of the country.” We have built 3 dormitory cum-training centers in Dhaka, Chittagong and Ishwardi. In Bandar Upazila of Narayanganj, safe and quality housing and labor welfare center has been constructed for women workers at low cost.
Recalling the initiative of the Father of the Nation in establishing the rights of the workers, his daughter said that the Father of the Nation had formulated the Labor Policy in 1972. In 1974, he merged the Directorate of Labor and the Directorate of Trade Union Registration to form the Directorate of Labor. To strengthen the economy, he ensured the nationalization of abandoned mills as well as the fair rights of the workers. Formed the Wages Commission. May Day is declared a public holiday. In 1972, Bangladesh became a member of the International Labor Organization (ILO).
