Accord refuses to pay workers during factory closure

The Accord -- a platform of more than 150 brands, retailers and trade unions -- declined Thursday to pay the workers during production suspension or shut down of any factory.
 "Accord's representative said that owners have to pay the workers in case of shut down of any factory. But I request the Accord to contribute to the workers payment as done by Alliance," Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said.
The Accord will assist or provide fund when remedial work will be carried out, he added.
The minister was speaking after a meeting on fire, electrical and building safety assessment of the existing RMG factories with the representatives from apparel sector, BUET, ILO, Accord and Alliance.   
Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed, Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar, Accord Executive Director Rob Wayys, Alliance Managing Director M Rabin, BGMEA President Md Atiqul Islam, BKMEA Vice President Md Hatem, ILO Country Director Srinivas Reddy and Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Inspector General Syed Ahmed, among others, were present at the meeting.
Tofail Ahmed said the Alliance is paying one month's wages if any of its listed factory is closed temporarily while the rest will be done by the owners.
Following the inspection, a factory might require three to six months for retrofitting or other remedial work, he said adding who would pay the workers during the time.
The minister called upon the Accord to pay the workers during that time.
The minister also said so far 1000 factories have been assessed by the Accord, the Alliance and BUET while only 20 factories have been identified as risky.
"Out of 20, only 14 factories were shut down," he said.
Bangladesh enjoys duty free facilities in the EU market and 52 per cent of the total export goes to that market, he said stressing good relation with the EU.
Regarding the strength of buildings, he said the experts will sit and resolve it shortly.