Appellate Division orders disposal of writ

The Appellate Division on Monday ordered the High Court to dispose of a rule that questioned labour appellate tribunal's order to Grameen Kalyan to pay dividend to 106 sacked and retired employees.

Grameen Kalyan is an organisation owned by Nobel laureate Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, passed the order, after hearing a petition filed by former employees of Grameen Kalyan against the HC order.

The apex court, however, upheld its chamber judge's order that stayed part of the HC order issuing status quo on the tribunal's order.

Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan appeared in the court hearing on behalf of former employees, while barrister Abdullah Al Mamun represented the organisation.

Mr Khan said, "The SC asked the HC to dispose of the rule regarding the issue within two months. It also upheld the chamber judge's stay order against the HC status quo on the tribunal's award."

According to the Labour Act, 5.0 percent of the company's net profit has to be paid to the workers' welfare and participation fund from the date the Labour Act comes into force.

However, Grameen Kalyan did not give dividend to employees claiming itself as a non-profit social enterprise.