The government finally announced the much-sought-after rules for enforcing an updated labour law with a provision for workers' festival allowances without specifying the amount, officials said.
On this score, the European Union and the United States-the main markets for Bangladesh's exports, particularly readymade garments—hailed the Bangladesh government for issuing the long-pending rules for executing the revised labour law.
Trade unions, however, criticised the government for not specifically fixing the festival allowances as they think the vagueness would further intensify the existing problems.
The rules also hold clarification on some issues incorporated into the 2013 amendment, including the formation and activities of safety committee in garment factories and fund for the export-oriented sectors.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment issued Wednesday a gazette notification paving the way for implementing the labour law. The execution of the law has been pending since its amendment in 2013.
Criticising the government for not determining the amounts of festival allowances, labour leaders forewarned that it would further aggravate the existing problems stemming from this issue.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) in a letter last month requested the government to fix minimum festival allowance for workers to avoid unrest in garment hubs.
"Though it took some time, we formulated it after consultation with all the stakeholders, including representatives from owners and workers," Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar told the FE.
There is direction on festival allowances, he said, explaining that "workers who work for at least one year will get two festival allowances annually and the amount would not be more than the monthly basic."
Terming the inclusion of festival allowance in the rules 'positive', Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, Assistant Executive Director of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), said, "It should be that the allowance should not be less than the basic."
Replying to a question, Mr Shipar said there was immense pressure from international arena but the rules are not only for the garment sector but for all.
According to the rules, existing factories have to form safety committee within six months from the date the rules come into effect while the factories, set up after the formulation of the rules, within nine months after production starts.
An export-oriented unit will contribute 0.03 per cent of its export receipts to the fund while it is optional for government and global buyers.
The rules also ensure rights and protection for the workers who are outsourced, it mentioned.
Welcoming it, former vice-president of BKMEA Md Hatem said finally the long- awaited rules have been finalized.
"But some issues like the number of fire-extinguishers in a factory, installation of sprinkler and maternity benefit need some more clarification," he said.
A bdnews24.com report said EU Ambassador in Dhaka Pierre Mayaudon, speaking at a seminar on plurilateral trade and WTO at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIIS), congratulated the government on issuing the rules.
He said it made the day, Sep 16, "auspicious".
"I did not read it yet. But it's a very important step in the right direction," he said.
Chargé d'affaires of the US embassy David Meale also congratulated Bangladesh on issuing the implementation rules of the revised law.
"This is something very important for the EU counties and the US," he said.
He did not read the details of the rules either, but said: "This is a welcome step and a milestone".
The rules have been issued just before the visit of a US trade team this week to review the progress in implementing workplace safety and labour rights.
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